Trust for Public Land announced May 20 that San Francisco has the Bay Area’s best big city park system. San Francisco ranked 6th nationally on Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, matching last year’s finish. Oakland climbed one spot to finish tied for 43rd with Fremont and San Jose fell to 49th, eight places behind last year’s finish.
Atop the rankings, Washington, DC, retained the ParkScore title, outpacing Irvine (2nd), Minneapolis (3rd) and St. Paul (4th). The annual ParkScore® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation.
According to Trust for Public Land, 100 percent of San Francisco residents live within a 10- minute walk of a park. Boston and Jersey City are the only other ParkScore cities to match that achievement.
Other Bay Area cities also received strong marks for park access. Oakland follows with 88 percent, San Jose scores 79 percent, and Fremont offers 70 percent of residents 10-minute park access.
Oakland’s 2026 uptick in the ParkScore rankings was due largely to improvements in park investment. This year, Oakland invested $182 per person on its park system, an increase over last year’s $162. San Jose’s downward move was also caused by park investment trends. This year, the city spent $122 on its park system, compared to $125 last year.
Accompanying the annual ratings list, Trust for Public Land released a new economic analysis, The Undeniable ROI of Parks, which found that city parks deliver $3 in benefits for every $1 Invested.
These benefits reach residents in many ways. For example, parks facilitate physical activity, which improves physical and mental health while reducing health care costs. Parks also serve as “green infrastructure,” which saves cities money on flood control and other public works. Finally, park facilities and activities offer direct savings to consumers, who might otherwise pay out-of-pocket for similar services.
The research found that 88% of U.S. residents visited a public park at least once during the past year, and more than half (54%) want to spend more time outside. Survey respondents reported that they use parks to increase physical activity and improve physical health (71%), de-stress and improve mental health (61%), and spend time with family and friends (46%).
The survey found that people visited parks more frequently than any other publicly accessible venue, including bars and restaurants. Also, an overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) support continued community investment in outdoor recreation. The public opinion survey, National Survey on Outdoor Public Spaces, was conducted by national pollster YouGov in March, 2026.
The annual ParkScore® index ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities and is widely considered the gold standard for park evaluation. ParkScore rankings are based equally on five factors:
• Park access measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
• Park equity compares per capita park space and 10-minute-walk park access in communities of color vs. white communities and in low-income neighborhoods vs. high income neighborhoods. Park systems score higher if disparities are minimal or non-existent.
• Park acreage is based on a city’s median park size and the percentage of city area dedicated to parks.
• Park investment measures park spending per resident.
• Park amenities assesses the availability of seven popular park features: basketball hoops; off-leash dog parks; playgrounds; splashpads and other water-play structures; sports fields; recreation and senior centers; and restrooms.
The ParkScore website is free and available to the public, empowering residents to hold their elected leaders accountable for achieving equitable access to quality parks for all.
