The Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) annual ParkScore Index is out and Atlanta has achieved its highest ranking ever. Ranked 25th among the 100 largest cities, Atlanta now has 79 percent of its population living within a 10-minute walk of a park – a key metric in the TPL study. That figure just edges out the 76 percent national average.
“Access to quality parks and greenspaces across our city has remained a top priority throughout my administration, which is why I created the City’s first Greenspace Advisory Council my second month in office. Atlanta’s parks and recreational areas play a vital role in creating healthy, connected communities where families and friends make memories that last a lifetime,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This recognition for our parks system is a testament to strategic investments and innovative planning. Thank you to our Department of Parks and Recreation team for the hard work to get us this far, and the dedication to our city that will propel us even further.”
There are five categories that comprise the index. Atlanta did not score well in the Acreage category – only 24 out of 100 points for the percentage of the city’s overall area dedicated to parkland. This could perhaps stem from Atlanta’s overall acreage being on the high side, those figures are hard to find because lists include consolidated communities like Macon-Bibb – ranked as the 32 largest city by area in the U.S. – but Atlanta is ranked ahead of Philadelphia, Portland and Orlando among many. Outside of Piedmont Park and the new Westside Park at the old Bellwood Quarry site, Atlanta lacks more large parks. For some comparison, New York’s Central Park is 842 acres; Westside Park, Atlanta’s largest, is only 280. Piedmont Park is 189. The median park size is 2.9 acres.
The city did score very high, a perfect score actually, on the Investment category. Atlanta invests $249 per person on its parks, right around twice the national average of $124. Among the recent investments were Standing Peachtree Park, which held its groundbreaking last year and is the city’s first park providing direct access to the Chattahoochee River.
Some other interesting tidbits from the TPL study are included the Amenities category. The city scored 60 out of 100 points, with 202 basketball hoops, 10 dog parks, 176 playgrounds and 10 splashpads among the features that offer some entertainment or something beyond a passive greenspace.
“The team and our many partners have worked hard over the past few years to get to this place,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justin Cutler. “We will continue our work together as we strive to connect all our neighbors to a safe 10-minute walk to a park and greenspace. Mayor Andre Dickens and I are committed to making Atlanta the best place to raise a child and safe parks and greenspaces makes that possible.”
To see the full report:
