Denver, CO
2021 ParkScore® ranking: #18
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 Denver’s ParkScore rating:
Access
85 out of 100
Acreage
50 out of 100
Investment
69 out of 100
Amenities
58 out of 100
Equity
68 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 Denver meeting that goal?
90%
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 16% less park space per person than the city median and 18% less 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 11% less park space per person than the city median and 26% less than those in high-income neighborhoods.
5%
of Denver's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Denver are parks needed most?
Denver has 317 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
Denver Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
70 th percentile
4.7 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
76 th percentile
1.9 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
75 th percentile
3.6 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
33 rd percentile
1.2 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
56 th percentile
0.8 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
64 th percentile
1.6 per 100,000 people
Denver’s Park Spending Per Capita
Denver’s total spending per capita: $138
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
Mayor Michael Hancock has pledged to adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to make sure every Denver resident has access to all the benefits parks provide.
"I have endorsed the vision that evryone should have a park or open space within a 10-minute walk of home." — Mayor Hancock
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 Jim Petterson, Colorado State Director at the Trust for Public Land
