Trust for Public Land has released its 2025 ParkScore index of the top park systems among the 100 most populous cities, and Philadelphia ranked 28th.
This is four spots higher than the 32nd place ranking Philadelphia ranked last year.
Philly’s climb was boosted by its strong marks for park access and park amenities.
According to the report, 95 percent of Philadelphia residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. This is well above the ParkScore city average of 76 percent.
Philly also ranked among the top 10 in the nation for “splashpads” and other water features, along with recreation and senior centers.
The city spends $112 per person on its park system, which also helped its ranking this year. While it’s significantly higher than last year’s $86 per person, it still trails the national average of $133 per person.
The value of parks cannot be overstated.
“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.
Washington D.C. remained the top city among the ParkScore rankings, followed by Irvine, California; Minneapolis; Cincinnati; and St. Paul, Minnesota rounding out the top five.
Check out the which U.S. cities have the top park systems in the 2025 ParkScore Index report here.
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