Washington, D.C., was rated the nation’s best big-city park system by the 2025 ParkScore index from Trust for Public Land—holding the spot for five consecutive years, and narrowly outscoring Irvine, Calif., Minneapolis, and Cincinnati, to retain its title. The annual ParkScore index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.
Accompanying the annual ratings list, Trust for Public Land released new public opinion research reporting that residents throughout the United States value public parks and use them frequently. These findings remain steady across demographic and ideological lines, confirming that parks are among the least polarized spaces in the U.S. Survey details are included in a special research report, “Parks, The Great Unifiers,” which also describes how four major U.S. cities—Atlanta, Fort Worth, Texas, Colorado Springs, and Chicago—have invested in parks to help bring people together and strengthen communities.
The research found that 89% of ParkScore city residents visited a public park at least once during the past year, and 79% said they visit a local park regularly and feel comfortable spending time there. Also, respondents said they wished they had spent more time outdoors during the past year. By contrast, only 24% of respondents said they wished they had spent more time at home, and 16% said they wished they had spent more time in bars or restaurants.
“Parks bring people together and deliver enormous physical and mental health benefits for visitors,” Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of Trust for Public Land, said. “At a time when so much in our nation seems fractured or polarized, parks may be the last ideology-free zones, where everyone can come together, form meaningful relationships, and enjoy a few hours of peace and relaxation. At Trust for Public Land, we will continue to work with park departments and leaders at all levels of government to realize the full community-building potential for parks.”
Washington, D.C., scored well on all ParkScore rating factors. Twenty-one percent of land in the District of Columbia is reserved for parks, among the highest in the United States. Washington also outperformed on ParkScore’s park access metric, with more than 99% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
“We’re proud that for the fifth year in a row, our park system has earned the top spot,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “This recognition is a testament to our continued investments in parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers across all eight wards, where residents and visitors alike come together to relax, play, and build community. From neighborhood playgrounds to the National Mall, we’re proud to have a park system that is accessible, beautiful and welcoming. Especially as we head into the summer, we invite everyone to come experience all that DC parks have to offer.”
Irvine jumped to a record ParkScore finish, powered by continued progress on its planned Great Park, one of the most ambitious public park projects in the United States. Cincinnati made a big move in the 2025 ParkScore rankings, climbing to third position this year, well ahead of last year’s eighth place rank. The Queen City’s rise was due primarily to the $5 million renovation of downtown’s Lytle Park and a citywide effort to improve public access to schoolyards and other open spaces.
Jersey City (31st overall) scored a key achievement this year, becoming only the third ParkScore city to offer 100% of residents access to a park or other public open space within a 10-minute walk of their home. Jersey City joins Boston (12th) and San Francisco (6th) as members of the 100 percent club.
Boise defended its title as the best park system for dogs, with a nation-leading nine dog parks per 100,000 residents, outscoring Portland, Ore., and Henderson, Nev. St. Paul, Minn., received top marks for basketball hoops, Las Vegas scored best for playgrounds, and Boston earned top marks for splashpads and other water features.
According to Trust for Public Land, the 10 highest-ranking park systems in the United States are:
- Washington, D.C.
- Irvine, Calif.
- Minneapolis
- Cincinnati
- St. Paul, Minn.
- San Francisco
- Arlington, Va.
- Seattle
- Portland, Ore.
- Denver