San Antonio residents are now closer than ever to green spaces with the city making a jump in the national ParkScore® Ranking. Climbing four places from 57 to 53, the Alamo City is betting on parks as key to community health and wellbeing, according to the latest report by The Trust for Public Land (TPL).
Data from the 2024 ParkScore® Index indicates that 52 percent of San Antonians now live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a notable uptick from the 42 percent in 2019. Senior citizens are particularly benefiting from this proximity, with 53 percent of those 65 and older enjoying easy access to parks, as per the city's statement.
It's not just about access, though—equity is also on the scorecard. The city's low-income neighborhoods boast 31 percent more park space per person than those in higher-income brackets. Additionally, a parity has been reached between neighborhoods of color and white neighborhoods, erasing the park space equity gap that existed five years ago.
On the amenities front, San Antonio is well above par, offering adult and senior centers, community centers, and permanent restrooms that add to its appeal. When it comes to acreage, the city scores top marks for median park size and the percent of city area dedicated to parks.
With pride etched on every word, Homer Garcia III, San Antonio's Parks and Recreation Director, emphasized the continuous improvements. "We’re excited to see our ParkScore® steadily improve over the last five years to its highest level ever," Garcia said. He attributed the success to new parks opened through voter-approved Bond Programs and described them as vital social infrastructure for everything from volunteering to outdoor exercise.
The ParkScore® isn't just looking at city-run spots. It also takes into account areas like the San Antonio Missions National Park and Bexar County parks. However, don't expect to see any private golf courses or gated community greens making a dent in the score—these are left out of the equation.
For those looking to delve into the numbers or simply find a new park to explore, the full 2024 ParkScore® Index details are available online at the TPL's official website.
