We are proud to announce the Trust for Public Land (TPL) has ranked Seattle among the top 10 cities nationwide in its 2023 ParkScore index. Seattle ranks No. 8 on this year’s list, moving up from No. 9 last year! #ParkProudSeattle
The TPL index is a national comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. Published annually, the index measures park systems according to five categories: access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity.
“The quality of our parks is a reflection of our commitment to the health and well-being of our communities – Seattle Parks and Recreation’s place as a Top 8 nationally ranked system is a recognition that our parks are unique and truly impactful assets for our city. Our focus remains on investing in and maintaining our parks, ensuring they are safe, welcoming places for kids, families, and communities. Seattle is a city of natural beauty, made even more special by the dedicated work of park partners and professionals. Thank you to the Trust for Public Land for this honor and acknowledgement of our shining park system,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell.
“One of the many things I love about Seattleites is our commitment to our parks and public spaces,” said Councilmember Andrew Lewis. “Seattle residents invest heavily in our Parks system and rely on public officials to be good stewards of that investment. This ranking is a reflection of that shared commitment to parks being clean, green, and accessible to all, and I look forward to seeing Seattle’s continued rise in these rankings as the work of last year’s Metropolitan Parks District renewal is implemented.”
“We are thrilled to have Seattle’s incredible park system recognized as the number 8 nationally ranked park system, and we are especially proud to have moved up a spot in just one year! This ranking reflects the commitment this City has towards improving access and equity throughout our park system and the abundant love Seattleites have for their park system. Seattle is a shining example of the important role parks and open spaces play in supporting healthy people, a thriving environment, and vibrant communities, and I look forward to partnering with our staff, Mayor Bruce Harrell, the City Council and community partners to see our score improve even higher in the coming years,” said AP Diaz, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent.
Highlights from the 2023 report include the following:
- Investment: Seattle scored 100 out of 100 points in this category! The investment score indicates the relative financial health of a city’s park system, which is essential to ensuring the park system is maintained at the highest levels. This value aggregates park and recreation spending across all agencies and organizations within the city, including monetized volunteer hours. In Seattle, a total of $329 per capita is spent each year on publicly accessible parks and recreation, which is among the highest for this category.
- Access: Seattle scored 98 out of 100 points in this category. The access score indicates the percentage of a city’s residents that live within a walkable half-mile of a park – the average distance that most people should live to reach a park destination. With 99% of its population living this close to a park, Seattle scores among the highest in this category.
For the complete list of 2023 ParkScore rankings, please see: https://www.tpl.org/parkscore.
For the details of Seattle’s ranking, please see: https://www.tpl.org/city/seattle-washington.
#SeattleShines
