These two Wisconsin cities rank among the top cities in the country for equitable park access
The Trust for Public Land recently ranked the 100 largest U.S. cities by access to and quality of park spaces for all residents. Two Wisconsin cities, Milwaukee and Madison, have been named among the top cities in the country for equitable park access. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has released its 2024 ParkScore rankings, ranking the 100 most populous U.S. cities by comparing park equity, access, investment, amenities and acreage. The report also highlighted the importance of parks as a vital part of cities' health, with one in three Americans, including 28 million children, not having access to a park within a 10-minute walk of their home. However, racial and economic disparities exist, with low-income neighborhoods having 51% less access to park space per person than Madison's median, while high-income areas had 58% more access. Meanwhile, the report noted that 95% of Madisonians live within a walk of a park, putting the city well ahead of medians across the country. Despite this, TPL praised recent efforts to improve park equity in Milwaukee.
Yayınlanan : 10 ay önce ile Claire Reid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel içinde Lifestyle Environment
These two Wisconsin cities rank among the top cities in the country for equitable park access
Think of some of the best parts of summer ― grilling out with friends, swimming at the pool, strolling through the great outdoors.
So many of our favorite summertime activities often take place at local parks.
Research shows that parks are an important part of cities' health. According to the City Parks Alliance, parks encourage active lifestyles, reduce health costs, strengthen local economies, improve environmental health, increase community engagement and more. However, about one in three Americans, including 28 million children, do not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of their home, the Trust for Public Land says.
TPL is a national nonprofit organization that works with communities, especially under-resourced ones, to create parks and protect public lands. Through its 10-Minute Walk Program, TPL is working with more than 300 mayors to create parks in areas lacking equitable access.
As part of tracking this mission, TPL recently released its 2024 ParkScore rankings, ranking the 100 most populous U.S. cities by comparing park equity, access, investment, amenities and acreage. Wisconsin's two largest cities, Milwaukee and Madison, ranked among the top quarter.
Here's what the report shows about parks in Milwaukee and Madison.
Madison is home to over 300 parks
From watercraft rentals at Wingra Park to Elver Park ice skating to Owen Conservation Park's nature trails, Madison's 302 parks are home to a variety of fun activities for all ages. Wisconsin's capital city ranked 18th for parks among the country's 100 most populous cities in the 2024 ParkScore rankings.
According to the report, 95% of Madisonians live within a 10-minute walk of a park. This puts the city well ahead of medians across the country. Across the 100 most populous cities, 74% of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park; across all U.S. cities, that number is 55%.
Madison scored highly when it comes to park access among racial minorities. Neighborhoods of color, defined by the report as those with the "highest concentrations" of people who identify as races other than white, have access to 39% more park space per person than the average neighborhood in Madison and 4% more access than those in white neighborhoods. Residents of Black and Hispanic neighborhoods actually had the most park space per person at 40% and 42% more than the city's average, respectively. However, Asian, Pacific Islander and "other" neighborhoods had less access than average.
When it comes to equitable park access among socioeconomic statuses, low-income neighborhoods had 51% less access to park space per person than Madison's median while high-income neighborhoods had 58% more access. According to the report, Madison spends about $112 annually per resident on parks, $12 less than the national average.
TPL also included a map showing where parks are most needed in Madison to reach the "10-minute walk" goal. While park space is prevalent in the center of the city, some areas on the far-east and far-west sides lack nearby park access.
Click here to read TPL's full 2024 ParkScore report for Madison.
Nine in 10 Milwaukeeans live within a 10-minute walk of a park
Home to beer gardens, outdoor concerts and public pools, parks are a big part of summertime life in Milwaukee. The city has 252 parks, TPL's report states, and they're some of its most beloved landmarks ― the Mitchell Park Domes, Bradford Beach and Lakeshore State Park, to name a few.
Milwaukee ranked 21st for parks among the 100 most populous U.S. cities in the 2024 ParkScore rankings. According to the report, 91% of Milwaukeeans live within a 10-minute walk of a park. However, racial and economic disparities exist. Residents of neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of people of color have access to 44% less park space per person than the city's average neighborhood and 69% less than those in white neighborhoods.
These disparities are greatest between Black and white neighborhoods. While Milwaukee's white neighborhoods have 81% more park access per person than the city's average, Black neighborhoods have 41% less. Additionally, the city's low-income neighborhoods have 35% less access to park space than the city's median while high-income neighborhoods have 53% more.
This doesn't mean things are hopeless in Milwaukee when it comes to park equity though. TPL praised recent efforts to improve Milwaukee's playfields, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. Playfield renovations revitalized the Columbia Playfield on the city's west side in 2019 and provided about $4.4 million in improvements to the south side's Burnham Playfield in 2022.
The report found that Milwaukee spends about $167 per resident on parks annually, over $40 more than the national average. A map included in the report shows that park access is most plentiful near Milwaukee's lakeshore, while some residents on the north and south sides do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
Click here to read TPL's full 2024 ParkScore report for Milwaukee.
What are the best cities for parks in the United States?
With 99% of residents living within 10-minute walking distance of one of the area's nearly 700 parks, Washington, D.C., ranked first in TPL's 2024 ParkScore rankings. Nearly one-quarter of the land in the nation's capital is used for parks and recreation, and $345 per resident is spent on parks annually (nearly three times the national average). Black neighborhoods have 73% more access to parks per person than the average neighborhood in D.C., and low-income neighborhoods have 48% more access.
Minnesota's Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul finished second and third, respectively, in the ParkScore rankings. In both cities, 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Minneapolis spends $318 per resident on parks annually. However, white neighborhoods have 91% more access to parks per person than the average neighborhood while Hispanic neighborhoods have 49% less access, and low-income neighborhoods have 65% less access than high-income ones. Though not perfect, things are more equitable in St. Paul, where $242 is spent per person on parks annually.
Here are the top 10 cities in TPL's 2024 ParkScore report:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee, Madison among best cities for public parks in America
Konular: Environment-ESG