The Twin Cities are back at it again, clinching top spots in the Trust for Public Land's 2025 ParkScore® Index with Minneapolis taking the third place and Saint Paul not too far behind in fifth, as reported by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board; the cities are maintaining their reputation for having exceptional park systems that stand out even when other cities like Irvine and Cincinnati decide to step up their park game.
It's not just about having a bench under a tree anymore, both Minneapolis and Saint Paul boast bragging rights with 99% of their residents living within a stone's throw – that's a 10-minute walk for those without an arm like a quarterback – of a park, soaring above the national ParkScore average of 76 percent, according to the Trust for Public Land announcement. Moreover, when it comes to splashing the cash for their green spaces, Minneapolis splurges a hefty $324 per person and St. Paul invests $248, leaving the national average park spend of $133 in the dust.
In terms of what these park rankings actually signify – besides the fact that you're never too far from enjoying a bit of urban nature – the ParkScore index prides itself on a slew of factors including park accessibility, acreage, investment, amenities and let's not forget equity, all measured with the magic of advanced GIS technology; oh yes, these folks thought about everything, even whether you've got to dodge speeding cars on a freeway just to get your daily dose of green, they only count a park as accessible if there's a safe way to get there.
"No other state can claim what Minnesota can: two nation-leading park systems in its largest cities," stated Sophie Harris Vorhoff, Minnesota State Director for Trust for Public Land in the article, adding that this stride needs sustained investment for the parks to remain "strong, accessible, and equitable" because other cities are certainly not catching Zs on this; in the same breath, Al Bangoura and Andy Rodriguez, park honchos of Minneapolis and Saint Paul respectively, echoed similar sentiments about their commitment to parks as vital to quality living and community health.
What's more, in a world where seeing eye-to-eye is becoming a bit of a rarity, parks have emerged as the great unifiers across divisive lines, with a fresh piece of research by the Trust for Public Land revealing that an overwhelming percentage of city dwellers, regardless of political leanings, find solace and social connection in these public spaces. The survey dug deep and found that an impressive 89% of ParkScore city residents popped into a public park at least once in the past year, while 79% are regular visitors who genuinely enjoy their park time – it seems like people are eager to trade in screen time for some tree time.
If you're curious about who else made the list, topping it yet again is Washington, DC, strutting with unparalleled park prowess for a fifth straight year, while Irvine's ambitious Great Park project propelled it to second place; other notable mentions included Boise winning the title of best park system for our four-legged friends and St. Paul for its hoops – full details and other city ParkScore rankings are up for grabs at the Trust for Public Land's website, which also throws down the gauntlet to the public to hold their local leaders' feet to the fire for beefing up park access. So, take a minute, or even 10, to walk to your nearest park and perhaps start a conversation with a fellow park-goer, after all, it's the park – the U.S.'s own homegrown, non-polarizing, open-for-all, breathe-easy utopia.
