I don’t really have to tell you that Boston’s park system is one of the most esteemed in the country. Steeped in natural beauty and a rich history, the city’s public spaces are among the foremost leaders in access, size and services. And while this eminence essentially goes without saying, sometimes a little validation is nice. The Trust for Public Land recently released its 2014 ParkScore Index, rating the park systems of 60 of the largest cities in the U.S., and Boston’s took home the bronze.
The Trust is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to conserving all public land for people and posterity to enjoy. Its annual rating is an aggregation of three specific metrics which aim to determine how parks stack up against those in other municipalities.
The data is based on are how accessible a park is to its city’s residents, a measurement of the percentage of those living within a 10-minute walk of a park; park size, a city’s median park size and the percentage of total city area dedicated to parks; and services and investment which is a combination of number of playgrounds per 10,000 city residents and per capita park spending.
Last year, the Trust’s list was comprised of just 30 cities. Doubling that number certainly added some stiff competition, and Boston’s number-three ranking in a more competitive study is a testament to how dedicated officials are to preserving its green areas.
“You can’t have a great city without great parks,” said Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President and Director of City Park Development for The Trust for Public Land in a statement. “Parks provide places for children and adults to be physically active, and they serve as community meeting places where friendships are built and a sense of community is strengthened.”
Besting Boston was Minneapolis with a 5 park bench rating – the Trust’s aptly-named metric. New York landed the number two spot with 4.5 park benches while Boston tied with Portland and San Francisco with four park benches apiece.
It’s important to keep in mind, too, that aspects like innovation and health measures were not taken into consideration when compiling these statistics. Boston, for example, has installed solar-powered trash cans in its spaces, is taking on smokers and is trying to figure out how to make parklets not just a fad but commonplace in the city’s various neighborhoods.
Added Peter Harnik, Director of the Trust for Public Land’s Center for City Park Excellence, “This year’s ParkScore results show that even outstanding park systems must improve to stay on top. When population grows, more parks and playgrounds are needed, but when city leaders get creative, they can meet the increased demand.”
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