Pittsburgh ranks as a top city for parks
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Open embedded content from datawrapper.dwcdn.netThe Steel City is the 15th best park city in the country, a new ranking finds.
Why it matters: City parks serve as community meeting spots and civic spaces, offer room for exercise and fresh air, and can draw in new residents — but they require investment, attention and protection.
Driving the news: That's according to the 2025 ParkScore index, an annual ranking from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a pro-park nonprofit.
- The report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems relative to one another based on five categories: acreage, access, amenities, investment and equity.
Zoom in: Pittsburgh received a score of 70 points, making it the 15th best park city in the U.S. out of the nation's 100 most populous cities.
- It had high scores for access — 94% of city residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park — and for amenities like basketball courts, splash pads, and recreation centers, according to the report.
What they're saying: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO Catherine Qureshi hails city parks for bringing families together and providing refuge for nature seekers.
- "Pittsburgh has great parks because of the commitment and collaboration of so many partners — park users, supporters, advocates, staff, volunteers and the incredible team at the city of Pittsburgh," she said.
Yes, but: Access to Pittsburgh parks varies sharply by race.
- Black residents' access to parks is 18% less than the median access, per the report.
- White residents' access is 58% greater than the median.
Zoom out: Washington, D.C. took home top honors with a total of 85.5 points, thanks in part to big access and investment scores.
- Irvine, California, came in second, while Minneapolis ranked third.
Stunning stats: Among the cities analyzed, $12.2 billion was invested in park and recreation systems in 2024, while 76% of residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
- Those are both records since TPL started tracking such figures in 2007 and 2012, respectively.
Go deeper: These cities have America's best parks