Chicago, IL
2021 ParkScore® ranking: #5
Our analysis 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 Chicago’s ParkScore rating:
Access
98 out of 100
Acreage
32 out of 100
Investment
94 out of 100
Amenities
72 out of 100
Equity
90 out of 100
We're working to ensure there's a park within a 10-minute walk of home
of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America.
of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America.
Is Chicago meeting that goal?
98%
of residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park.
National average 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).
Park Space Per Person by Race/Ethnicity Relative to City Median
Selected Findings:
Residents in neighborhoods of color have access to 22% more park space per person than the city median and 12% more than those in white neighborhoods.
Any Census-designated race/ethnicity not shown above does not meet the minimum threshold to be displayed.
Park Space per Person By Income Relative to the City Median
Selected Findings:
Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 25% more park space per person than the city median and 25% more than those in high-income neighborhoods.
9%
of Chicago's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Chicago are parks needed most?
Chicago has 1232 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
Chicago Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
71 st percentile
4.7 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
42 nd percentile
1.1 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
74 th percentile
3.6 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
70 th percentile
2.4 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
93 rd percentile
1.8 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
97 th percentile
8.8 per 100,000 people
Chicago’s Park Spending Per Capita
Chicago’s total spending per capita: $182
National Averages, Spending Per Capita:
City agency: $81 (85%) Other public agencies: $6 (6%)
Private organizations: $5 (5%)
Monetized volunteer hours: $4 (4%)
TOTAL: $96
Download the data
Our 10-Minute Walk™ campaign calls on mayors to demonstrate their commitment to parks and adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to ensure every resident has a great park close to home.
Tell your mayor: pledge to make parks a priority!
Find out how
We’re helping people connect with nature near you
