Minneapolis and St. Paul have two of the best city park systems in the country, according to new rankings by the Trust for Public Land.
The annual rankings evaluate park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities based on five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.
Minneapolis placed third, down one spot from last year’s rankings and behind Washington, D.C. and Irvine, California. St. Paul placed fifth, down two spots from last year and behind Cincinnati, Ohio, which placed fourth.
“No other state can claim what Minnesota can: two nation-leading park systems in its largest cities,” Sophie Harris Vorhoff, Minnesota State Director for the Trust for Public Land, said in a statement. “As other communities raise the bar, we’re reminded that continued investment is essential to keep our parks strong, accessible, and equitable.”
The Twin Cities have ranked in the top five for a decade, including three years as the top two city park systems in the country from 2016 to 2018.
Why were the Twin Cities’ park systems ranked among the best?
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. That’s far higher than the average of 76% in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.
Minneapolis, with 308 parks, spends $324 per person on its park system, while St. Paul, with 265 parks, spends $248 per person, both above the national average of $133.
Minneapolis has 19.4 playgrounds per 10,000 children and 5.1 sports fields per 10,000 people, while St. Paul has 15.5 playgrounds per 10,000 children and 4.9 sports fields per 10,000 people.
What have city officials said about the park system rankings?
Al Bangoura, superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, said, “We have long known that parks are integral to quality of life in Minneapolis, and it is critical that we continue our commitment to equity, innovation, and investing in the parks, programs and facilities that make Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work.”
Andy Rodriguez, director of St. Paul Parks and Recreation, said, “This national recognition reflects our city’s unwavering commitment to equity, environmental stewardship, and expanding access to parks and green spaces for all. We believe parks are essential to building healthy, connected communities, and we’re proud to be recognized for our work.”
What are the top city park systems in the country?
San Francisco, California
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minneapolis, St. Paul parks rank among the best in the US: Here’s why