Trust for Public Land ranked Houston 69th of 100 on the 2026 ParkScore Index, a national rating system that evaluates how effectively the nation's most populous cities provide safe, accessible green spaces. The ranking falls lower this year compared to last year's 66th-place finish.
According to a May 20 news release, the ranking change was due primarily to upward moves made by other cities, and not changes to the local park system.
The results
Trust for Public Land ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities by comparing five park categories: equity, access, investment, amenities and acreage. Here is how Houston scored in each category:
- 51 points: acreage, median park size and percent of area dedicated to parks
- 52 points: access, portion of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park
- 35 points: investment, three-year average of all public and private spending
- 48 points: amenities, six popular features such as basketball hoops and dog parks that appeal to diverse users
- 49 points: park space equity, distribution of parks and park space between neighborhoods by race and income
“Americans from all walks of life love their local parks, and they want leaders to invest in them,” said Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of Trust for Public Land. “The 2026 ParkScore rankings and results show why: parks deliver real returns, generating $3 in economic benefits for every $1 invested, while improving physical and mental health and strengthening communities."
More information
Additional insights shared on Houston's park system through the Trust for Public Land include:
- 65% of Houston residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park
- Residents in neighborhoods of color have access to 2% less park space per person than the city's average neighborhood
- Low-income neighborhoods have access to 35% less park space per person
- 12% of Houston's land is used for parks and recreation, which is 3% below the national median
- Houston's total spending per capita on park investments is $137
