News

Philly fell back to 19th place for its 2021 ParkScore® due to our park access inequality.

Philly jumped four spots in 2020, to be back at its 2019 ranking.

The Trust for Public Land released its 2021 ParkScore® rankings, announcing that Philly placed 19th.

Why the decline? Blame a lack of equity and budget cuts.

Philadelphia’s ParkScore fell due to declines in park investment and significant inequities in the Philly Park system.

Philly neighborhoods with residents identifying as Black, Hispanic and Latinx, Indigenous and Native American, or Asian American and Pacific Islander have access to 29 percent less park space per capita than predominately white neighborhoods, according to The Trust for Public Land. Low-income neighborhoods have access to 42 percent less park space than high-income Philly neighborhoods.

The city allocated $112 per person for the park system, down from $138 last year. Park equity was a new factor of the ParkScore in 2021.

Washington, DC took the top ParkScore title, finishing ahead of 2nd place Saint Paul and 3rd place Minneapolis.

Broke in Philly is a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. Green Philly is one of more than 20 news organizations in the collective. Follow us on Twitter @BrokeInPhilly.

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

Recent Posts

Philly’s trash is burned in Chester. Advocates say the health impacts don’t stay there

As Philadelphia considers ending incineration tied to Chester pollution, environmental justice advocates point to health…

20 hours ago

Mural Arts Institute closure, bike rack permits, budget hearings & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  PennDOT to repair potholes in Philly region. The…

7 days ago

Data centers are booming in the Garden State. Are local communities ready?

New Jersey is an attractive place to build a data center. Lawmakers and residents are…

1 week ago

SEPTA real-time arrivals, FDR Park lawsuit, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  SEPTA to debut digital bus stop displays. SEPTA…

2 weeks ago

New research shows widespread “ghost forests” in New Jersey

Scientists mapped millions of dead trees along the Atlantic coastline that show the impact of…

2 weeks ago

Why are Philly recycling rates so low? A mix of contamination, culture and systems still make it complicated in 2026.

City leaders, educators, and community advocates agreed on one thing at our recent recycling panel:…

3 weeks ago