Washington Dc tops ParkScore Index as Houston falls to No. 69

Washington, D.C. ranked No. 1 in the washington dc ParkScore Index released by the Trust for Public Land, which ranks the park systems in the 100 largest American cities each year. The index measures accessibility, equity, acreage, investment and amenities. Irvine, California, ranked No. 2, while Minneapolis, St. Paul and Cincinnati rounded out the top five.

Houston ParkScore 2026

Houston ranked No. 69 in the 2026 ParkScore Index, down from No. 66 last year. About 12.2 percent of land within Houston's city limits is dedicated to parks, above the national average of 9.3 percent, but 65 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, below the national average of 76 percent.

Texas Park Systems

Molly Morgan, Texas State Director and Associate Vice President of Trust for Public Land, said, "Cities across the Lone Star State are making serious investments, opening new parks, partnering with school districts, and closing gaps that have existed for decades". She added, "They’re showing what’s possible when Texas gets serious about parks."

Houston spends about $137 per resident to maintain its park system, compared with the national average of $154 per resident. Plano and Frisco boast the best park systems in Texas, and about 9 million Texans do not have a park within a 10-minute walk of their homes.