Urban parks are doing far more than offering fresh air and a place to play. According to the Trust for Public Land’s newly released ParkScore® rankings, green spaces are becoming powerful venues for bridging social divides, building civic leadership, and promoting equity.

“More than half of Americans say they had a conversation in a park with someone they didn’t know, and who came from a different background,” said Will Klein, Director of Parks Research at the Trust for Public Land. “That simple act of connection is increasingly rare elsewhere.”

Klein presented national findings from the 2025 ParkScore Index during a May 23 briefing hosted by American Community Media. The report, which ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities, uses five criteria: access, acreage, investment, amenities, and equity. The data paints a clear picture: cities with strong park systems also show stronger community engagement, with higher rates of volunteering and civic participation.

Houston in the Rankings

According to the data, Texas cities are spread across the rankings. Plano leads among Texas municipalities, ranking #17 nationwide with a score of 68.9 out of 100. Dallas sits at #34, followed by Frisco (#37), Arlington (#46), and Austin (#54). Houston, however, did not crack the top 55—an indication that the city still has work to do in creating equitable and accessible green spaces.

Nationally, Washington, D.C. claimed the top spot for the fifth consecutive year, thanks to its extensive and historic parklands. “Washington narrowly outscored Irvine, California, which rose to second,” Klein said. “Minneapolis came in third, and Denver notably cracked the top 10 for the first time.”

Klein emphasized that park systems are critical for more than recreation. “Cities that have better park systems have more social connections between people of different income groups,” he said. “They have more volunteers, and more civic leaders and civic organizations.”

Equity and Opportunity in Action

The ParkScore Index revealed a record high: 76% of people in the top 100 cities now live within a 10-minute walk of a park—up from 68% in 2012. This leap is largely due to cities opening schoolyards to the public during evenings and weekends.

Atlanta is a leading example. “Through the adoption of a Joint Use Agreement, now all of the schools, playgrounds, and fields are open for our neighbors after hours,” said Justin Cutler, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of Atlanta. The partnership between Atlanta Public Schools, Trust for Public Land, and others increased Atlanta’s 10-minute walk score from 79% to over 82% and helped the city jump from a rank of #51 to #21.

Cutler also highlighted Cook Park in Vine City, a neighborhood once devastated by flooding. “Half the park is a beautiful stormwater facility, and the other half is a beautiful park,” he explained. “During Hurricane Helene, the park absorbed the water that would have traditionally flooded the neighborhood. Three days later, it looked like there had never been a rainstorm.”

Los Angeles Struggles but Looks Ahead

In contrast, Los Angeles has slipped in the rankings—falling from #49 five years ago to #90 in 2025. “Just 5 years ago, they were 49, and so, year after year, Los Angeles has dropped,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, California State Director for the Trust for Public Land.

Rodriguez attributed the decline to outdated planning and underinvestment. “The last time the City of Los Angeles updated its Park Master Plan was in 1973,” he said. “And today, it’s significantly below the national average in park funding.”

Still, there’s hope. Rodriguez and fellow speaker Yvette Lopez-Ledesma emphasized new momentum driven by community activism. “What excites me is that thanks to some absolutely amazing community leaders and frontline organizations, the City of Los Angeles has funded a Park Needs Assessment,” Rodriguez said.

Lopez-Ledesma, who serves on the Park Needs Assessment Steering Committee, called the process essential: “We want parks funded, we want them maintained, and we want more of them,” she said. “Ultimately, this is about quality of life.”

Looming Uncertainty

With federal funding uncertainties looming, panelists underscored the importance of partnerships and community-led solutions. “It took us nationally 17 years for parks to recover from the 2007–2008 Great Recession,” said Klein. “There will be difficult decisions happening across the country on city budgets.”

Yet the speakers remained optimistic about the power of parks to unify, uplift, and empower communities—especially during divisive times. “A park is not just a park,” Lopez-Ledesma said. “We have seen over and over again that it’s not just for recreation. Parks are lifelines in communities.”