Portland's parks are ranked 9th in the nation
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Want to picnic on an extinct volcano? Or maybe romp through a misty forest minutes from downtown? Parks in Portland have you covered and are ranked among the best in the nation, per a new report.
Why it matters: Parks aren't just a point of pride for Portlanders, they also "foster connection, civic trust, and wellbeing at a time when we need it most," according to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), which released its ParkScore rankings this week.
Driving the news: Portland took the No. 9 spot — just like last year and the year before — among the country's 100 most populous cities.
By the numbers: The score is based on a number of factors.
- Portland, which has 156 developed parks and more than 11,000 acres of recreational and open space, scored 62 out of a possible 100 on TPL's ranking for acreage.
- We scored 77 for amenities, things like sports fields, dog parks and basketball hoops.
- And 86 for access, with 89% percent of Portland residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
Between the lines: Our highest score — 100 — came for investment, with the city devoting $274 per resident to parks.
- We may fall in this ranking next time, though, with city leaders weighing significant cuts to the parks department as they try to fill a massive budget deficit.
Yes, but: Portland scored just 55 for equity.
- Residents in neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of people of color have access to 62% less park space than residents of white neighborhoods.
The bottom line: Our parks are something to be proud of, but we've got work to do to make sure that everyone gets to share in them equally.