Washington, DC, named best city park system on Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ParkScore® index; Saint Paul takes 2nd, Minneapolis 3rd

The Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ratings add measures of park equity for the first time in ParkScore history, as non-profit warns of COVID-related budget cuts

Washington, DC, is the best city park system in the nation, reclaiming the ParkScore title it last held in 2019. Saint Paul ranked second on the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, and Minneapolis placed third. The Twin Cities have finished in the top three each year they have been ranked.

The Twin Cities’ ParkScore rankings were lifted by strong marks for park access. Ninety-eight percent of Minneapolis residents, and 99 percent of Saint Paul residents, live within a 10-minute walk of a park, far exceeding the national ParkScore average of 75 percent. Both cities also scored extremely well for park investment and park amenities, ranking among the nation’s leaders for both rating factors.

The ParkScore index added measures of park equity for the first time in 2021 and uncovered significant inequities in access to park space across the United States.

Across all ParkScore cities, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as Black, Hispanic and Latinx, Indigenous and Native American, or Asian American and Pacific Islander have access to 44 percent less park space per capita than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 42 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.

In Saint Paul, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 30 percent less park space per capita than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents of low-income neighborhoods in Saint Paul have access to 35 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.

In Minneapolis, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to 58 percent less park space than residents in neighborhoods that are predominantly white. Residents of low-income neighborhoods have access to 65 percent less park space than residents in high-income neighborhoods.

In Washington, residents of neighborhoods where most people identify as people of color have access to about the same amount of park space as residents in neighborhoods that are predominately white. Residents in low-income neighborhoods also have access to about the same amount of park space as residents in high-income neighborhoods.

“In a majority of ParkScore cities, white neighborhoods and high-income neighborhoods have a disproportionately higher share of park space,” says Linda Hwang, The Trust for Public Land’s Director of Innovation and Strategy. “That’s not right and it’s not fair. The Trust for Public Land believes there should be a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home of every person in America, and we are committed to centering equity as we advocate for parks and open space in cities throughout the United States.”

Many urban park systems are actively addressing historical inequities.

In Minneapolis, equity and access have been a priority for early and recent park leaders. More than a century ago, the park system was shaped by actions to preserve all land along the lakes, streams and rivers for public access and to build parks within six blocks of every resident. However, as the city grew and industrial areas transitioned to residential, gaps occurred. Since 2007, the Minneapolis Park Board has focused on park acquisition and investments to address access and service gaps. In 2016, it became the first park system in the country to pass an ordinance requiring equity criteria to guide its capital investments in parks.

“Congratulations Washington DC and St. Paul! We are honored to be among the top ranked park systems and are proud that 98 percent of Minneapolis residents are within a 10-minute walk of a park,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “The equity rating reaffirms what we’ve known and are committed to doing, which is investing in areas of the city that have been underserved.”

In Saint Paul, parks investment focused on new parks in areas that have been historically underserved or are experiencing rapid population growth. Examples include Frogtown Park and Farm, Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary and Midway Peace Park, which will celebrate its grand opening shortly.

“Safe and accessible outdoor space is vital to creating livable and sustainable neighborhoods,” said Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm. “I am proud of the progress we have made around equity and access in Saint Paul, but it is critical we continue to strategically invest in areas that have been historically underserved or are experiencing rapid population growth to further meet the needs of all children and families who call our city home.”

CITIES REPORT HIGH PARK POPULARITY AND CREATIVE USE DURING PANDEMIC

“Parks are always essential to our communities, and they are even more valuable in times of crisis. During this extraordinary pandemic year, people relied on close-to-home parks, trails, and open spaces to exercise and connect with nature more than ever. Parks also served as makeshift community centers for emergency services like food distribution, COVID testing, and vaccine super-sites,” says Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land.

PARKSCORE METHODOLOGY AND RANKINGS

For the last 10 years, ParkScore rankings were based on four factors, and this year, a park equity measure was added. This new rating factor was added to help city leaders understand and prioritize equity when making decisions about parks.

• Park equity compares per capita park space in neighborhoods of color vs. white neighborhoods and in low-income neighborhoods vs. high income neighborhoods and 10-minute-walk park access for people of color and lower-income residents. Park systems score higher if disparities are low or non-existent;
• Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park;
• Park acreage is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of city area dedicated to parks;
• Park investment measures park spending per resident; and
• Park amenities assesses the availability of six popular park features: basketball hoops, off-leash dog parks, playgrounds, “splashpads” and other water play structures, recreation and senior centers, and restrooms.

The 10 highest ranking park systems in the United States are:

The ParkScore index uses advanced GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and spatial analysis to evaluate park accessibility. Instead of measuring distance to a local park, the rating system’s GIS technology considers the location of park entrances and physical obstacles to access. For example, if residents are separated from a nearby park by a major highway, the ParkScore index does not count the park as accessible to those residents, unless there is a bridge, underpass, or easy access point across the highway. For details, visit www.tpl.org/parkscore.