Categories: Philly

Philadelphia’s ParkScore is #14 in the USA: Plus Park Fun Facts

OK, so we can’t come in first every time.

The Trust for Public Land came out with the ParkScore list, ranking Philadelphia #14 out of the major US cities (top 50). Minneapolis came in at #1, followed by #2 New York City and a three-way tie for #3 including Sacramento, San Fran & Boston. Our near rival DC came in at #6.

How does ParkScore work?

The Trust for Public Land analyzed land owned by regional, state, and federal agencies across the US. Cities are able to earn a maximum of ParkScore 100, which is based on of acreage, services and investment, and access. Playgrounds are important to the service & investment piece, as well as spending on parks per resident (median: $76). The access of parks is the percentage of population living within a 10 minute walk of a park.

Overall, Philly’s score comes in at 62.5 (or 3 1/2 “benches”). We’re apparently lacking our ‘score’ in spending per resident, median park size.

Here’s the Philly Park stats according to ParkScore:

  • 13% of city area is park land.
  • $54.46 of spending per resident on parks.
  • The median park size is 3.60 acres
  • City area is 85,825 acres.
  • Parks in Philadelphia make up 11,187 acres
  • Fun fact: The oldest parks are Rittenhouse/Washington/Logan/Franklin Squares, which were established in 1682. (And also made a ‘grid’ of 4 corners.)
  • The largest park (and most visited!) is Fairmount Park/Wissahickon Valley at 4,167 acres.
  • There are 3.4 playgrounds per 10,000 residents.

 

Readers, what do you think of Philadelphia’s ParkScore? Do you think it should be higher? Lower?

Photo: Parkscore

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

Moving Fast and Breaking Climate goals: What Pennsylvania’s Data Center boom means for local communities

$90 billion in investments could reshape the energy landscape, but community voices and renewable alternatives…

7 hours ago

Trash competition, government shutdown, November elections, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Block by Block launches citywide cleanup competition with…

14 hours ago

From coal to solar affordability: PA’s next energy chapter shaped by HB 504

Farmers and city residents alike stand to benefit from local, homegrown power, says Land &…

1 day ago

Celebrating Solar at “Sun Day,” trash burning ban proposed & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Philly mobilizes for Sun Day solar energy celebration.…

1 week ago

You can be exposed to PFAS through food, water, even swimming in lakes – new maps show how risk from ‘forever chemicals’ varies

Drinking water isn’t the only way people are exposed to PFAS today. This article is…

1 week ago

Building connections: How Ash Richards uses land care as cultural preservation

The city’s Director of Urban Agriculture talks about the impact of history, gardening as collective…

1 week ago