Boston, MA
2022 Trust for Public Land ParkScore® Ranking: #12
Boston’s ranking is based on five characteristics of an effective park system:
access, investment, acreage, amenities, and equity.
access, investment, acreage, amenities, and equity.
How We Calculated Boston’s ParkScore® Rating:
Access
100 out of 100
Acreage
48 out of 100
Investment
83 out of 100
Amenities
61 out of 100
Equity
78 out of 100
We're working to ensure that every person, in every neighborhood, in every city
across America has a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home.
across America has a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home.
Is Boston meeting that goal?
100%
of residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park.
Median for the 100 ParkScore® cities: 75%
Median for the 14,000 cities and towns in our ParkServe® database: 55%
Median for the 14,000 cities and towns in our ParkServe® database: 55%
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by age
10-minute walk of a park by age
Children (0 - 19)
Adults (20 - 64)
Seniors (65+)
Percent of residents within a
10-minute walk of a park by income
10-minute walk of a park by income
Percent of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park by race/ethnicity
*Excludes those that report Hispanic origin (which is captured separately from race by the U.S. Census).
Nearby park space by race/ethnicity
Additional Findings:
Residents in neighborhoods where most people identify as a person of color have access to 12% less park space per person than those in predominantly white neighborhoods.
Any Census-designated race/ethnicity not shown above does not meet the minimum threshold to be displayed.
Nearby park space by income
Additional Findings:
Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 19% less park space per person than those in high-income neighborhoods.
17%
of Boston's city land is used for parks and recreation.
Median for 100 ParkScore® cities: 19%
Median for all 14,000 cities and towns in our ParkServe® database: 15%
Where in Boston Are Parks Needed Most?
Boston Has 836 Parks
We’ve mapped park access in 14,000 cities and towns across the country. Our free mapping platform helps you pinpoint where to focus park investments in your city.
Explore the map
Boston Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Most-Populous U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
54 points out of 100
4.1 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
53 points out of 100
1.4 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
62 points out of 100
3.9 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
26 points out of 100
0.9 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
69 points out of 100
1.1 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
100 points out of 100
12.1 per 100,000 people
Boston’s Park Spending Per Capita
Boston’s total spending per capita: $168
National Averages, Spending Per Capita:
City agency: $83 (85%) Other public agencies: $7 (7%)
Private organizations: $5 (5%)
Monetized volunteer hours: $3 (3%)
TOTAL: $98
These park facts are derived in part from Trust for Public Land's ParkServe® database.
Read more about our ParkServe database.
Read more about our ParkServe database.
Download the Data
Mayor Michelle Wu has pledged to adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to make sure every Boston resident has access to all the benefits parks provide.
"I have endorsed the vision that everyone should have a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of home." — Mayor Wu
Learn about the 10-Minute Walk campaign
Partner With Us
You believe we all need access to great parks. We can help you reach that goal.
Contact Kelly Boling, Massachusetts State Director at the Trust for Public Land
We’re Helping People Connect with Nature Near You
