Richmond ranks among nation's top 25 park systems
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Richmond once again landed among the country's top 25 best city park systems, per the Trust for Public Land's new rankings.
Why it matters: Just a few years ago, Richmond barely cracked the top 50.
State of play: TPL's annual report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems relative to one another based on five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
- Richmond landed at No. 24 this year, down from last year's No. 16 spot and No. 22 in 2024.
- Yes, but: Prior to that, Richmond typically ranked somewhere in the mid-40s and "the city's overall score increased by 34 points compared with its 2018 rating," according to the parks department.
Zoom out: D.C. took home top honors for the sixth year in a row, followed by Irvine, Calif.; and Minneapolis, Minn., per the rankings.
The intrigue: Nationwide, cities' inflation-adjusted parks and rec spending rose just 2% in fiscal 2025, TPL found, down from 7-8% in each of the prior two years.
- That comes as pandemic-era federal aid is running dry, straining cities' budgets.
- In Richmond, the per-capita spending increased from $186 last year to $194 in the latest report, higher than the nationwide average of $154.
What they're saying: "This recognition speaks to the dedication of city staff, community partners, and residents who work together to create parks that foster connection, wellness, and opportunity," Mayor Avula said in statement.