According to a new scoring index that tracks equity of public park amenities nationwide, San Antonio’s total park system has increased its score in at least two categories.

The Trust for Public Land annually publishes the ParkScore index that measures park systems across 100 of the biggest U.S. cities. The 2022 ParkScore index was recently released and measures five categories: acreage, investment, amenities, access and equity.

Data shows that San Antonio’s access to parks has steadily improved over the last three years from 42% in 2019 to 52% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park in 2022, a city release said.

The 2022 park equity findings show San Antonio residents in low-income neighborhoods have access to 36% more park space per person than those in high-income neighborhoods.

City officials said this is a 3% increase from 2021. However, local officials said residents in neighborhoods where most people identify as a person of color have access to 14% less park space per person than those in predominantly white neighborhoods.

“Today, more people residing in San Antonio live within a 10-minute walk of a park. While we’re making strides in this area, we know we have work to do to connect more people to public parks, trails, amenities and green spaces in our community and to ensure that those park spaces reflect the needs of each community,” Parks and Recreation Director Homer Garcia III said. “This growth is encouraging as our vision statement is equitable access for all by 2050 and serves as a call to action.”

The city said creative solutions, such as expanded recreational schoolyard agreements, repurposed city property and the use of utility easement corridors for trails help provide more spaces within a 10-minute walk for families to recreate, exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

Additionally, the parks and recreation department uses the city’s equity atlas—an interactive tool that highlights demographics, disparities and marginalization within the city—to help make data-informed decisions that address disparities and improve access for all in the community, the release said.

More information on the 2022 ParkScore Index can be found at www.tpl.org.