Pittsburgh parks rank 15th nationally, research says

Pittsburgh parks have placed 15th out of 100 on the annual 2025 ParkScore Index, which is conducted by the national nonprofit Trust for Public Land.

The ranking matches Pittsburgh’s all-time high on the list in 2020, and is two spots above its rank last year of 17th place.

Will Klein, director of parks research for the nonprofit’s Land and People Lab, said Pittsburgh has a model park system.

“Other cities, when they’re looking at how to improve their park system, are looking at cities like Pittsburgh,” he said.

Across the country, there have been increases in park investment at about 40% on average over the last five years, according to Klein. In Pittsburgh, that increase stands at 55% in park investment.

Pittsburgh invests $176 per person in its park system, which is above the national ParkScore average of $133, according to the report.

This can include renovating existing parks, fixing broken playgrounds, building trails and hiring staff, he said.

“This year, they’re starting to get more and more of those dollars out the door,” Klein said of Pittsburgh’s parks commitment.

The ParkScore Index looks at five measures: Access, equity, acreage, investment and amenities.

Pittsburgh’s score on the index has increased in part due to the parks tax approved by city voters in 2019, he said. Only seven other park systems in the country also have this dedicated funding, according to Klein.

The city is also unique because 94% of its residents have a park within a 10-minute walk, he said, compared to 76% as an average in big cities overall.

Klein said Pittsburgh parks have more amenities as well, including splash pads, rec and senior centers, basketball hoops, dog parks, playgrounds and restrooms.

“There’s a lot of things you can do at the parks,” he said.

However, Pittsburgh’s ranking was limited by below-average scores in the park acreage section.

“Pittsburgh’s rising ParkScore reflects something we see daily — how much our community loves and believes in its parks,” said Catherine Qureshi, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in a statement. “This recognition speaks to the generosity and care of Pittsburghers who continue to invest in these spaces.”

The top five cities on the 2025 ParkScore Index include:

1. Washington, D.C.

2. Irvine, Calif.

3. Minneapolis

4. Cincinnati

5. St. Paul, Minn.