The Trust for Public Lands has released its annual ParkScore, and Arlington is once again in the top 10. Arlington ranked No. 7, the same place it held last year. Nearby Washington, DC, scored the No. 1 spot.
The annual ranking uses data from the country’s 100 most populous cities. It considers factors like total acreage of park land and the amenities at the parks. It also factors in the population’s access to the land and the park space equity.
This is Arlington’s 11th consecutive year landing in ParkScore’s top 10. The county scored a 76.1 out of 100 points. The study makes note that 99% of Arlington residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park.
“Arlington’s continued top ten ParkScore rankings reflect our deep commitment to high-quality, accessible public spaces,” Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a statement. “I am proud to live and serve in a community that values our public lands and recognizes how essential they are to our collective well-being.”
Arlington scored 97 out of 100 for county investment in parks and 91 for amenities. Eleven percent of Arlington’s land is used for parks and recreation, and the county invests $303 per capita on parks.
DC Scores Top Ranking
DC landed the top spot in the ranking for the sixth year in a row. In DC, 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
The city scored 55 out of 100 for acreage, 100 for investment, 86 for amenities, and 86 for park space equity. Twenty-one percent of the city’s land is used for parks and recreation, and DC invests $449 per capita on parks.
“Six years at the top isn’t an accident — it’s the result of deliberate, sustained investment in the parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers that make DC the best city in the world,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a news release.
Irvine, California, ranked No. 2, Minneapolis, Minnesota, was No. 3, and St. Paul, Minnesota, scored the No. 4 spot.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
