Twin Cities Earn Top Rankings on Trust for Public Land's 2026 ParkScore Index

Minneapolis Places Third; St. Paul Places Fourth

Accompanying Research Report Concludes Parks Are a Winning Investment: Economic Analysis Shows City Parks Deliver $3 in Economic Benefits For Every Dollar Invested   

Trust for Public Land announced today that Minneapolis placed third, and Saint Paul ranked fourth on the 2026 ParkScore^® Index. Saint Paul climbed one spot ahead of last year’s fifth-place finish, thanks mostly to additional parks funding secured through the city’s “Common Cent” 1% sales tax measure. Minneapolis’ impressive third-place ranking matched last year’s result and is the city’s fourth consecutive top-3 finish.  

The annual ParkScore index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation.  

Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul received strong marks on all ParkScore rating factors. Ninety-nine percent of Minneapolis and Saint Paul residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, far above the national ParkScore average of 76 percent. Both cities also continue to lead on park investment. Minneapolis spends $346 per person on its park system, and St. Paul invests $309, far above the national ParkScore average of $154. These investments helped fund many important projects, including the renovation of Minneapolis’ North Commons Park and the opening of St. Paul’s new downtown Pedro Park.  

“Minneapolis is proud to once again be recognized among the nation’s top park systems. This ranking reflects our long-standing commitment to parks as essential public infrastructure and to making meaningful equity-driven investments in communities throughout the city. Projects like North Commons Park and Field House and the Upper Harbor Terminal demonstrate how parks can reconnect communities, expand recreational, cultural, and economic opportunities, and create lasting community benefits where they’re needed most. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board values the Trust for Public Land’s leadership in advancing conversations about park access and equity nationwide. We look forward to continuing to work with TPL to evolve the future of the ParkScore’s equity metric to incorporate important factors such as long-term investment strategies, stewardship, and community-centered planning in historically underserved neighborhoods - essential components for strengthening park systems and improving park experiences nationwide." Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Superintendent Al Bangoura

Accompanying the annual ratings list, Trust for Public Land released a new economic analysis, The Undeniable ROI of Parks, which found that city parks deliver $3 in benefits for every $1 invested. These benefits reach residents in many ways. For example, parks facilitate physical activity, which improves physical and mental health while reducing health care costs. Parks also serve as “green infrastructure,” which saves cities money on flood control and other public works. Finally, park facilities and activities offer direct savings to consumers, who might otherwise pay out-of-pocket for similar services.   

The research report cites many innovative examples of high-ROI park investments. For example, New York City recently opened several “Fitness Zones” in public parks, providing access to free strength training equipment. Charlotte’s Fourth Ward Movie Night screens popular films at no cost during the summer, with free popcorn for the first 100 attendees! These initiatives save residents money on gym memberships and entertainment costs. Other examples described in the report yield substantial savings to city governments. For example, Los Angeles’ “Green Alleys” program recently replaced several trash-strewn asphalt alleys with landscaped pedestrian walkways. These green spaces absorb water during rainstorms, instead of pushing additional runoff into already overstretched storm drain networks. Green alleys and other natural spaces save Los Angeles an estimated $8 million annually in stormwater treatment costs.  

Trust for Public Land also released a new public opinion survey confirming that residents throughout the United States use parks regularly, value them highly, and consider parks and other public open spaces essential pieces of community infrastructure. Survey results were consistent across demographic and ideological lines.   

The research found that 88% of US residents visited a public park at least once during the past year, and more than half (54%) want to spend more time outside. Survey respondents reported that they use parks to increase physical activity and improve physical health (71%), de-stress and improve mental health (61%), and spend time with family and friends (46%). The survey found that people visited parks more frequently than any other publicly accessible venue, including bars and restaurants. Also, an overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) support continued community investment in outdoor recreation. The public opinion survey, National Survey on Outdoor Public Spaces, was conducted by national pollster YouGov in March, 2026 (N=4,000). Additional details about the survey are available upon request.   

PARKSCORE RANKINGS FOR 2026  

Washington, DC, was rated the best big-city park system in the United States for the sixth consecutive year. The city scored well on all ParkScore rating factors. More than twenty-one percent of land in the District of Columbia is reserved for parks, among the highest in the United States. The District also outperformed on ParkScore’s park access and park equity metrics.   

Irvine retained its 2nd place ranking, powered by continued progress on its Great Park, one of the most ambitious public park projects in the United States. Boise defended its title as the best park system for dogs, with a nation-leading 9.1 dog parks per 100,000 residents, outscoring Portland, Oregon, and Henderson, Nevada. St. Paul received top marks for basketball hoops, Cincinnati scored best for playgrounds, and Boston ranked first for splashpads and other water features.  

PARKSCORE METHODOLOGY AND RANKINGS  

The annual ParkScore^® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation. ParkScore rankings are based equally on five factors: 

• Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park. 
• Park equity compares per capita park space and 10-minute-walk park access in communities of color vs. white communities and in low-income neighborhoods vs. high-income neighborhoods. Park systems score higher if disparities are minimal or non-existent. 
• 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.  
• Park amenities assesses the availability of seven popular park features: basketball hoops; off-leash dog parks; playgrounds; splashpads and other water-play structures; sports fields; recreation and senior centers; and restrooms.  

According to Trust for Public Land, the 10 highest-ranking park systems in the United States are: 

Rank	City	ParkScore (Max 100)
1.	Washington, DC	85.1
2.	Irvine, CA	84.1
3.	Minneapolis, MN	83.4
4.	St, Paul, MN	83.2
5.	Cincinnati, OH	81.2
6.	San Francisco, CA	80.0
7.	Arlington, VA	76.1
8.	Seattle, WA	75.4
9.	Portland, OR	75.1
10.	Chicago, IL	74.3

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. 

Municipal leaders use ParkScore information to guide park improvement efforts, studying park access on a block-by-block basis and pinpointing the areas where new parks are needed most. The ParkScore website is free and available to the public, empowering residents to hold their elected leaders accountable for achieving equitable access to quality parks for all.