WBUR: Boston's park system ranks 12th in the US. We can still do better

August 04, 2026

Parents watch from nearby tables as their children play in The Boston Common Frog Pond on July 1. (Artemisia Luk/WBUR)

Each spring, the ParkScore index from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) ranks park systems across the 100 largest U.S. cities. The ranking assesses five factors: access, equity, acreage, investment and amenities. It’s a useful annual benchmark, but this year’s report tells a bigger story.

In 2026, Boston ranked #12 nationwide, maintaining its spot from last year — today, 100% of the city’s residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. But not all parks in Boston serve the surrounding community equally. Boston residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 16% less park space per person than residents of average-income Boston neighborhoods, and 25% less than residents of high-income neighborhoods, reflecting gaps in access to outdoor spaces that support health, connection and quality of life.

This matters because at a time when cities are balancing competing priorities and limited resources, parks represent an investment that delivers multiple benefits.

New research by TPL shows that there is a $3 return in economic benefits, on average, for every dollar invested in parks and recreation each year, from lower healthcare costs to stronger local economies. Additional benefits include reduced stormwater treatment costs, improved public health outcomes, consumer savings on fitness and recreation, higher tax revenues and a boost in public-private partnerships.

These are not new ideas. More than a century ago, Frederick Law Olmsted argued that parks were not luxuries, but public necessities — places where people could restore their minds and bodies, connect with one another and improve public health. His vision reshaped American cities and remains just as relevant today.