Plano’s parks are ranked first in Texas and 13th in the nation, according to the latest scoring from the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit.
The details
The Trust for Public Land gave Plano a score of 71.1 points out of 100 for its 2026 ParkScore Index. The organization ranks parks based on the following metrics:
- Acreage
- Access
- Investment
- Amenities
- Park Space Equity
Eighty-five percent of residents are within a 10-minute walking distance of a park, according to the Trust for Public Land website. Seventy-six percent of residents in the 100 most-populated cities live within that distance nationwide.
Plano spends $228 per resident on parks based on a three-year average, according to the 2026 ParkScore report. About 10% of its city land is used for parks.
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Park Planning Manager Katie Dunham said parks have been a priority for the city for three decades.
“[The Parks and Recreation Department] is a hallmark service for the city of Plano thanks to the supportive residents who use our parks, engage in our planning processes and support funding for parks,” she said.
Dunham said online engagement from surveys contribute to future park planning. She said the parks department, VisitPlano and the economic development department at the city build parks to help the city’s growth and culture by drawing residents and businesses to Plano.
Currently, the city is developing plans for two new parks: Schell Park, which has been approved by voters for an $11.95 million renovation, and Ravenglass Park near Alma Drive and West Park Boulevard.
