The nationwide index evaluates park systems within the country’s most populous cities, according to a May 27 news release from the trust. Plano earned the highest score among Dallas-Fort Worth cities, followed by Dallas at No. 50 and Arlington at No. 78. First place was awarded to Washington, D.C.
“For nearly 52 years, the Plano Parks and Recreation Department has strived to deliver programs and services that go above and beyond to our community,” the city’s Park Planning Manager Renee Jordan said in a statement. “We are very proud of the results of the analysis, which places us as No. 1 in Texas.”
Plano’s high score is due in part to its large median park size of 13.8 acres, which is more than double the size of the national average of 5.4 acres, according to the release. Its per-resident park spending of $223 and its high percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park also contributed to its score, per the release.
The city was also recognized for its above-average scores for park amenities, such as basketball hoops and playgrounds.
Plano’s parks department uses the ParkScore index to evaluate its performance in the areas of access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity, Jordan said. For more information on the ranking, visit www.tpl.org/parkscore.
