The 2025 ParkScore® index, which ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities, has brought mixed news for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. While Fort Worth made a significant leap and Dallas continued its upward trend, Irving held steady at a low ranking. Frisco also made a strong debut in the rankings.
Washington, D.C., once again claimed the top spot nationally, followed by Irvine, California (2nd), Minneapolis (3rd), and Cincinnati (4th). The annual ParkScore index is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation.
Dallas continued its five-year streak of improvement, rising four spots to rank 34th this year, up from 38th last year and 54th in 2020. This progress is primarily attributed to gains in park access and increased investment. Currently, 81 percent of Dallas residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a substantial increase from 58 percent a decade ago. Last year, Dallas invested $155 per person in its park system, exceeding the national ParkScore average of $133. This marks a significant improvement from ten years ago when the city's per capita investment lagged the national average at just $62 per person.
Dallas' recent rise in park access is largely due to initiatives such as the Cool School Community Parks program, which opens school facilities for community use after hours, and the Dallas Greening Initiative, transforming vacant lots into neighborhood greenspaces. "Our undeterred focus to make Dallas the greenest and greatest city in Texas continues to pay dividends for our residents and I am happy to see our partners at the Trust for Public Land recognize this vision once again,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson.
Plano earned high marks for its substantial median park size of 13.8 acres, more than double the national ParkScore average of 5.4 acres. The city also scored strongly for park investment, spending $198 per resident compared to the national average of $133. Eighty-one percent of Plano residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, above the national average of 76 percent, placing it at 17th nationally.
Fort Worth was one of the nation’s biggest movers this year, surging 19 spots to finish 72nd, up from 91st last year. This significant improvement resulted primarily from increased investment linked to Mayor Mattie Parker’s “Good-Natured Greenspace Initiative,” which aims to preserve 10,000 acres of natural space over the next five years. The city has increased park investment by nearly 50 percent over the past five years and currently has more than 80 park construction projects underway.
Frisco made an impressive debut in the ParkScore index, ranking 37th in its first evaluation. The city's park system outperformed Plano in park investment but slightly lagged in park access. Arlington and Garland also saw rises in their rankings compared to last year.
Irving, however, saw no change in its rank, remaining at 99th for the second consecutive year. While renovating existing facilities is a step forward, the report suggests more parks need to be added to improve its standing. Irving's spending per resident on parks was $90, below the national median of $133, and only 63% of its residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
Here’s a summary of key ParkScore data for DFW area cities:
| City | 2025 ParkScore Index Rank | 2024 ParkScore Index Rank | Percentage of Residents Within a 10-Minute Walk to Park (2025) | % of City Area Reserved for Parks (2025) | Spending per Resident (2025) | Spending per Resident (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plano | 17 | 16 | 81% | 10.4% | $198 | $181 |
| Dallas | 34 | 38 | 81% | 11.0% | $155 | $140 |
| Frisco | 37 | na | 70% | 5.1% | $258 | na |
| Arlington | 46 | 47 | 71% | 9.3% | $112 | $112 |
| Garland | 67 | 74 | 63% | 8.3% | $205 | $147 |
| Fort Worth | 72 | 91 | 69% | 6.3% | $102 | $91 |
| Irving | 99 | 99 | 63% | 5.7% | $90 | $88 |
| National Median | 76% | 9.3% | $133 | $124 |
