The 85 largest U.S. cities have more than 1.4 million acres of city parks, according to new data released by The Trust for Public Land. The city park systems profiled in the report serve 58 million urban residents, offering 11,160 playgrounds, 9,167 ball diamonds, 1,349 swimming pools, 514 dog parks, and 400 public golf courses, among other facilities.
The report, 2010 City Park Facts, includes statistics on urban park acreage, spending, staffing, and facilities. The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, releases the data annually through its Center for City Park Excellence.
"In this time of economic adversity, we need great city parks to keep the hearts of our communities beating," said Peter Harnik, director of the Center. "These are the publicly available places city dwellers can go to enjoy the outdoors, stay in shape, and recharge their souls."
Thanks to Coleen Gentles
