Washington, DC
2021 ParkScore® ranking: #1
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 Washington, DC’s ParkScore rating:
Access
98 out of 100
Acreage
55 out of 100
Investment
100 out of 100
Amenities
82 out of 100
Equity
88 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 Washington, DC 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 55% more park space per person than the city median and 15% 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 50% more park space per person than the city median and 9% more than those in high-income neighborhoods.
21%
of Washington, DC's city land is used for parks and recreation.
National median 15%
Where in Washington, DC are parks needed most?
Washington, DC has 636 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
Washington, DC Park Amenities Compared to the 100 Largest U.S. Cities
Basketball Hoops
89 th percentile
7.5 per 10,000 people
Dog Parks
85 th percentile
2.3 per 100,000 people
Playgrounds
25 th percentile
1.9 per 10,000 people
Bathrooms
77 th percentile
2.6 per 10,000 people
Recreation and Senior Centers
97 th percentile
2.2 per 20,000 people
Splashpads
89 th percentile
4.5 per 100,000 people
Washington, DC’s Park Spending Per Capita
Washington, DC’s total spending per capita: $286
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 Muriel Bowser has pledged to adopt long-term, system-wide strategies to make sure every Washington, DC 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 Bowser
Learn about the 10-Minute Walk campaign
We’re helping people connect with nature near you
