Cities with the best Public Parks

By Sam Stebbins  •  May 28, 2026
woman sitting on bench
Photo by Josephine Baran on Unsplash

Home to over 342 million people and spanning over 3.8 million square miles, the U.S. is one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. Yet, despite the size of the United States, the vast majority of Americans live in densely-populated urban areas. Cities typically offer a high-concentration of economic opportunities, cultural attractions, and services – and partially as a result, approximately 80% of the U.S. population reside in urban areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Some of the advantages city living offers can also have significant drawbacks, however. Many of America’s largest cities, including Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Francisco, have a population density of more than 10,000 people per square mile. In these and other major cities across the country, basic necessities like housing, commerce, and infrastructure can fuel unrestrained development and seemingly endless tracts of concrete and steel – often at the expense of parks and greenspaces, which are an essential component to overall quality of life in any city. 

Multiple studies have shown that health outcomes in urban populations tend to improve with access to parks and green spaces. In any city, widespread access to parks promotes active lifestyles and reduces the risk of multiple diseases and conditions, including cancer, depression, diabetes, and obesity. Parks and greenspaces also help reduce the negative impacts of severe weather, by absorbing heavy rainfall and mitigating extreme heat. Additionally, according to the City Parks Alliance, an independent advocacy group, trees in urban areas remove over 710,000 tons of air pollution every year. 

Using data from non-profit advocacy group Trust for Public Land, Climate Crisis 247 identified the 10 major U.S. cities with the best public parks. All rankings were  compiled by TPL and based on a composite index score that includes measures of access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment. A complete methodology is available here. All supplemental data in this story are from TPL. 

green trees near city buildings under blue sky during daytime
Photo by Mike Fox on Unsplash

10. Chicago, Illinois

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 1,248 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 98%
  • Total park space in city: 13,821 acres (9.1% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $252 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 2.2 acres

9. Portland, Oregon

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 332 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 90%
  • Total park space in city: 14,342 acres (15.7% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $322 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 4.9 acres

8. Seattle, Washington

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 850 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 99%
  • Total park space in city: 6,481 acres (12.2% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $440 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 5.4 acres

7. Arlington, Virginia

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 197 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 99%
  • Total park space in city: 1,785 acres (11.4% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $303 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 2.5 acres

6. San Francisco, California

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 530 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 100%
  • Total park space in city: 5,837 acres (21.4% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $476 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 1.3 acres

5. Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 407 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 91%
  • Total park space in city: 7,799 acres (17.1% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $259 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 4.2 acres

4. St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 267 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 99%
  • Total park space in city: 4,974 acres (15.6% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $309 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 3.2 acres

3. Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 309 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 99%
  • Total park space in city: 5,090 acres (15.6% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $346 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 5.6 acres

2. Irvine, California

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 368 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 94%
  • Total park space in city: 11,008 acres (25.3% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $697 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 6.1 acres

1. Washington, D.C.

  • Total number of parks and green spaces in city: 693 
  • Share of residents who live near a park: 99%
  • Total park space in city: 9,291 acres (21.5% of city)
  • Annual spending on public parks: $449 per capita
  • Median park size in city: 1.4 acres


Similar Posts