75 Cities Ranked by ParkScore 2015

The Trust for Public Land released its 2015 ParkScore today, ranking the 75 largest U.S. cities on the metrics of acreage, facilities and investment, and access.

1 minute read

May 20, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

photo.ua / Shutterstock

In addition to increasing the number of cities receiving a scores, up from 60 last year, ParkScore 2015 (see the whole list) produced a notable change at the top, with New York City dropping from a tie for first to a tie for fifth with Portland.

Minneapolis and St. Paul lead the list in 2015 (Minneapolis also tied for first last year), followed by Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.

Andrew Theen picked up on the news of the ranking, noting especially the city of Portland's penchant for pooches—manifested in "the most dog parks per 100,000 residents, with 5.4 parks, nearly eight times the average for the other 74 cities."

Peter Callghan also picked up the news of the top billings earned by the Twin Cities. Callaghan offers the following distinctions in the metrics that added up to the top ranking: "St. Paul narrowly outscored Minneapolis in the percentage of residents who are walking distance to a park (96 percent to 95 percent). Minneapolis won the median park size competition (6.8 acres to 3.7 acres). And St. Paul won the amenities race, based on its prodigious supply of hoops and playgrounds."

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 in Trust for Public Land

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Boston Red Line train with skyline in background.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap

The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

15 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

View down center of street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan

Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

1 hour ago - Urban Milwaukee

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA