Atlanta cracks top 25 in annual ParkScore ranking

Atlanta has earned its highest annual ParkScore but in 2024, putting twenty fifth out of the 100 largest U.S. cities within the yearly Belief for Public Land park rating index. 

It marks a three-spot soar from final 12 months when Atlanta positioned twenty eighth. The town has been on a meteoric rise since 2016 when it positioned 51st out of 100. 

The annual ParkScore index ranks park techniques within the 100 most populous U.S. cities based mostly on 5 elements: entry, fairness, acreage, funding and facilities. The ten highest ranked cities in the USA are Washington, DC; Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN; Irvine, CA; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; Cincinnati, OH; Portland, OR and Chicago, IL. 

Atlanta’s excessive marks come partly from its park entry. 79 p.c of residents dwell inside a 10 minute stroll of a park, which is 5 p.c increased than the nationwide median. The town additionally ranks excessive in park spending: at $249 per capita it invests double the nationwide common. 

Belief for Public Land Georgia State Director and Southern Area Vice President George Dusenbury stated the rating will make Atlanta’s continued development viable.

“Atlanta continues to be one of the crucial vibrant cities in America, and I believe its enchancment within the ParkScore tracks its attractiveness as a spot for individuals to come back dwell, “Dusenbury stated. 

Park Delight Govt Director Michael Halicki stated he’s “thrilled” with the rating, nevertheless it’s “not time to take our foot off the gasoline.” Because the chief of the citywide nonprofit devoted to enhancing parks, he used the annual rating to ask for a $51.8 million fiscal 12 months 2025 funds, a multi-million enhance from final 12 months for the Division of Parks and Recreation. 

“We should proceed to rise and to push ourselves for the most effective we might be in delivering a world-class park system,” Halicki stated. “We must always do that for our area’s financial competitiveness, attracting prime expertise and capital to our metropolis; we must always do that for our residents; we must always do that for the era to come back.” 

Halicki identified that whereas Atlanta ranks excessive in sure areas, it has “room to develop” in others, like fairness and acreage. He additionally stated the 100/100 rating for funding is nice however is owed partly to important philanthropic contributions. 

About 21 p.c of Atlanta parks funding is owed to non-public donations, in comparison with a 5 p.c nationwide common. Halicki stated the belief has modified its rating methodology lately – earlier than, the group didn’t rely philanthropic contributions and Atlanta sat at 51 out of 100. 

Atlanta raised taxes in 2023 to dedicate extra funds to park upkeep, although – a transfer that elevated funds by $10-12 million. 

He additionally pointed to Atlanta’s lower-ranking classes, specifically fairness and acreage. Solely six p.c of town’s land has been devoted to parks, and the 457 present parks have a median measurement of two.9 acres in comparison with the nationwide common of 5.4. 

Dusenbury stated the largest alternative for enchancment is the amount of park land, and he hopes that town’s continued land dedication will resolve it. The town is about to achieve 5,000 acres of park land by this 12 months, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens goals to get the quantity to 7,000 by 2030. 

Dusenbury additionally hopes to see extra collaboration with the parks. He hopes to proceed the nationwide Belief for Public Land initiative Group College Yards in Atlanta, which might have college parks function academic areas throughout the day however turn into neighborhood leisure areas throughout non-school hours. 

To this point, town has eight neighborhood schoolyards and one other six within the works. 

With the discharge of the annual ParkScore, park leaders are already trying towards enhancements within the coming 12 months. 

“The alignment of parks and fairness is our mandate from this research,” Halicki stated. 

Govt Director Halicki additionally stated he would love to include extra sturdy facilities into the present parks. Atlanta ranked 60 out of 100 within the ParkScore index. Halicki stated that when Atlanta residents have been surveyed for the 2022 park grasp plan, one of many prime requests was for public bogs. 

“Loos are a kind of issues everyone desires, however no one desires to speak about,” Halicki stated. 

He additionally pointed to extra “inventive concepts” to create resilient parks in numerous Atlanta communities, like splash pads and water options to fight excessive warmth. He hopes the ParkScore will promote a give attention to fairness, acreage and resilience. 

“There’s a variety of nice concepts that this helps to bolster,” Halicki stated. 

Alongside the annual rankings record, the Belief for Public Land revealed new analysis known as “The Energy of Parks to Strengthen Group.” Utilizing 900 examples from metropolis leaders throughout the nation, the belief discovered that residents of cities rating within the prime quarter of the index are 60 p.c extra prone to volunteer than residents of lower-ranking cities. Larger-ranking metropolis residents are additionally 26 p.c extra prone to type friendships with individuals in numerous socio-economic teams. 

“Park leaders are stepping as much as promote neighborhood connection and handle the nationwide epidemic of loneliness and social isolation,” President and CEO of the Belief for Public Land Diane Regas stated. 

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