Chicago, IL
2019 ParkScore® ranking: #10
Our analysis is based on four characteristics of an effective park system:
access, investment, acreage, and amenities.
access, investment, acreage, and amenities.
How we calculated Chicago’s ParkScore rating:
Access
97.5 out of 100
Acreage
35 out of 100
Investment
95 out of 100
Amenities
75 out of 100
Everyone deserves a park within a 10-minute walk of home.
Is Chicago meeting that goal?
98%
of residents live within a 10 minute walk of a park.
National average 54%
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
10%
of Chicago's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Chicago are parks needed most?
Chicago has 1230 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.
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Chicago Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
75 th percentile
4.6 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
46 th percentile
0.9 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
75 th percentile
3.6 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
69 th percentile
2.4 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
91 st percentile
1.7 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
98 th percentile
8.7 per 100,000 people
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Mayor Rahm Emanuel has pledged to adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to make sure every Chicago resident has access to all the benefits parks provide.
"I have endorsed the vision that everyone deserves a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of home." — Mayor Emanuel
Learn about the 10-Minute Walk campaign
We’re helping people connect with nature near you
