Trust for Public Land ranks Denver parks 13th in nation

The big picture: Washington, D.C., ranked No. 1 in the nation for the fourth consecutive year. The nation's capital sets aside 24% of its land for parks. Minneapolis finished second, followed by its twin city, St. Paul, at No. 3.

State of play: Denver's investments in parks — roughly $197 per resident — also exceeded the $124 national average and helped boost the city's rankings.

• Meanwhile, Aurora fell to 48th in the analysis of 100 cities, and Colorado Springs dropped to 55th. Aurora's investment in parks dipped to $142 per resident, which contributed to its lower status.

Yes, but: Other outdoor organizations want residents to get even closer to nature. REI — which has a flagship store in Denver — is running a campaign to make sure everyone in the U.S. lives within 5 minutes of parks and trails, a far more stringent standard than the Trust's rankings.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show 93% of Denver residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park (not 10 miles).