IRVING, Texas — Irving recorded the biggest improvement in the nation in the newly released 2026 ParkScore rankings, climbing 28 spots from 99th place to 71st among the 100 largest U.S. cities (compare with 2023 ParkScore data).
The rankings, released by the Trust for Public Land, evaluate park systems based on park access, acreage, investment, amenities, and equity.
Officials credited Irving’s dramatic rise to increased investment through the city’s “Let's Play Irving” initiative introduced in 2023. The initiative is funding several major park improvement projects expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027. Some of those improvements include the Lee Park Recreation Center and the Senter Park renovation that are ongoing.
According to the report:
- 64% of Irving residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park
- 5.7% of the city’s land is dedicated to parks
- Irving’s park spending surged from $90 per resident in 2025 to $277 per resident in 2026
That spending increase was among the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and significantly exceeded the national median of $154 per resident.
Molly Morgan said Texas cities are making major investments to improve park access and outdoor recreation.
“Texas is proving that park access is not a coastal priority. It is a Texas priority,” Morgan said. “Cities across the Lone Star State are making serious investments, opening new parks, partnering with school districts, and closing gaps that have existed for decades.”
The report noted that six of seven Dallas-Fort Worth area cities improved their rankings this year, but Irving posted the largest jump nationwide.
Other North Texas cities included:
- Plano ranked 13th
- Dallas ranked 38th
- Fort Worth ranked 58th
- Garland ranked 64th
ParkScore Data for North Texas Cities
National Rankings
Atop the national rankings, Washington, DC, retained the ParkScore title, outpacing Irvine (2nd), Minneapolis (3rd) and St. Paul (4th). The annual ParkScore® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation.
Accompanying the annual ratings list, Trust for Public Land released a new economic analysis, The Undeniable ROI of Parks, which found that city parks deliver $3 in benefits for every $1 invested. These benefits reach residents in many ways. For example, parks facilitate physical activity, which improves physical and mental health while reducing health care costs. Parks also serve as “green infrastructure,” which saves cities money on flood control and other public works. Finally, park facilities and activities offer direct savings to consumers, who might otherwise pay out-of-pocket for similar services.
The research report cites many innovative examples of high-ROI park investments. For example, New York City recently opened several “Fitness Zones” in public parks, providing access to free strength training equipment. Charlotte’s Fourth Ward Movie Night screens popular films at no cost during the summer, with free popcorn for the first 100 attendees! These initiatives save residents money on gym memberships and entertainment costs. Other examples described in the report yield substantial savings to city governments. For example, Los Angeles’ “Green Alleys” program recently replaced several trash-strewn asphalt alleys with landscaped pedestrian walkways. These green spaces absorb water during rainstorms, instead of pushing additional runoff into already overstretched storm drain networks. Green alleys and other natural spaces save Los Angeles an estimated $8 million annually in stormwater treatment costs.
Trust for Public Land also released a new public opinion survey confirming that residents throughout the United States use parks regularly, value them highly, and consider parks and other public open spaces essential pieces of community infrastructure. Survey results were consistent across demographic and ideological lines.
The research found that 88% of US residents visited a public park at least once during the past year, and more than half (54%) want to spend more time outside. Survey respondents reported that they use parks to increase physical activity and improve physical health (71%), de-stress and improve mental health (61%), and spend time with family and friends (46%). The survey found that people visited parks more frequently than any other publicly accessible venue, including bars and restaurants. Also, an overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) support continued community investment in outdoor recreation. The public opinion survey, National Survey on Outdoor Public Spaces, was conducted by national pollster YouGov in March, 2026 (N=4,000). Additional details about the survey are available upon request.
“Americans from all walks of life love their local parks, and they want leaders to invest in them,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, President and CEO of Trust for Public Land. “The 2026 ParkScore rankings and results show why: parks deliver real returns, generating $3 in economic benefits for every $1 invested, while improving physical and mental health and strengthening communities. TPL is committed to working with cities nationwide to expand access to high-quality parks and unlock their multitude of benefits for everyone.”
ParkScore Methodology and Rankings
The annual ParkScore® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation. ParkScore rankings are based equally on five factors:
- Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
- Park equity compares per capita park space and 10-minute-walk park access in communities of color vs. white communities and in low-income neighborhoods vs. high-income neighborhoods. Park systems score higher if disparities are minimal or non-existent.
- Park acreage is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of city area dedicated to parks.
- Park investment measures park spending per resident.
- Park amenities assesses the availability of seven popular park features: basketball hoops; off-leash dog parks; playgrounds; splashpads and other water-play structures; sports fields; recreation and senior centers; and restrooms.
The ParkScore index uses advanced GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and spatial analysis to evaluate park accessibility. Instead of measuring distance to a local park, the rating system’s GIS technology considers the location of park entrances and physical obstacles to access. For example, if residents are separated from a nearby park by a major highway, the ParkScore index does not count the park as accessible to those residents, unless there is a bridge, underpass, or easy access point across the highway.
