Richmond parks climb to No. 16 in U.S.
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Richmond's public park system is now the 16th best in the country, according to an annual parks ranking.
Why it matters: That's a jump from last year's No. 22 ranking and way up from its No. 39 place the year before.
State of play: The Trust for Public Land, a pro-park nonprofit, annually scores the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems based on access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.
- For the last two years, Richmond scored best for equity — that's how close low-income locals and neighborhoods with the highest concentration of people of color live to parks.
- But in the latest ranking, our parks saw the hight score, and biggest year-over-year increase, for amenities.
- That's the fun stuff locals can find in parks, like basketball courts, sports fields, splash pads and playgrounds — and last year Richmond starting adding more of them, per a news release.
New city park amenities include new indoor and outdoor playgrounds at Southside Community Center, playground replacements citywide (which is still happening) and an under-construction splash pad at TB Smith Community Center.
Meanwhile, the city has slowly been increasing its parks spending, which also bolstered its score.
- Last year, Richmond spent $186 per resident on parks, up from the $135 it spent the year before — and the $99 per capita it spent in 2022.
What they're saying: "Richmond's park score reflects the incredible progress we've made in making our city one of the best places to live, play, and connect," said city parks director Chris Frelke said in a statement.