Chicago, IL
6
How we calculate the Chicago ParkScore® Rating

The ranking for Chicago is based on five characteristics of an effective park system: access, investment, acreage, amenities, and equity.

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Access
98
Acreage
32
Investment
91
Amenities
72
Equity
91
98% of Chicago residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. National Average 55%

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.

How are the parks distributed?
Chicago residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park
By Age (%)
Children (0 - 19)
98
Adults (20 - 64)
98
Seniors (65+)
98
By Income (%)
High Income
98
Middle Income
98
Low Income
98
Race/Ethnicity (%)
American Indian*
99
Asian*
99
Black*
99
Hispanic
97
Pacific Islander*
98
White*
98
2 or More Races*
99
Other*
99
*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
Residents in neighborhoods where most people identify as a person of color have access to 13% more 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.
How do park amenities measure up?
We compared Chicago against the others to determine where it falls for spending per capita.
Basketball Hoops
65
4.8 per 10,000 people
Playgrounds
56
3.6 per 10,000 people
Rec & Senior Centers
100
1.8 per 20,000 people
Dog Parks
38
1.1 per 100,000 people
Bathrooms
73
2.3 per 10,000 people
Splashpads
100
8.9 per 100,000 people
How much is Chicago investing in parks?
We compared Chicago against the others to determine where it falls for spending per capita
Park Spending per Capita
  • City agency
    $177 (97%)
  • Other public agencies
    $1 (1%)
  • Private organizations
    $2 (1%)
  • Monetized volunteer hours
    $1 (1%)
$182
Total Spending Per Capita
  • 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
Make the Commitment
Pledge to make parks a priority!
Everyone should have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home. Our 10-Minute Walk™ Program calls on mayors to demonstrate their commitment to parks and adopt long-term, system-wide strategies that accelerate the creation of parks.