News Summary
San Antonio has been recognized as having the 6th best park system in Texas according to the 2025 ParkScore report by the Trust for Public Land. However, the city’s national ranking has fallen to 57th from last year’s 53rd. While the city boasts 356 parks and over 28,000 acres of parkland, only 47% of residents live within a half-mile of a park. Comparatively, other Texas cities like Plano and Dallas have better rankings in park accessibility.
San Antonio has been recognized as having the No. 6 best park system in Texas, according to the 2025 ParkScore report released by the Trust for Public Land. This ranking evaluates the park systems of the 100 largest cities in the United States, making it a significant benchmark for the city’s recreational offerings.
In the national ranking, San Antonio is currently positioned at 57th, which marks a decline from last year’s ranking of 53rd. The ParkScore report utilizes five criteria to assess the park systems across various cities: accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities. Washington, D.C. has maintained its position at the top of the national list for the second consecutive year, followed by Irvine, California, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Ohio, and St. Paul, Minnesota, rounding out the top five.
In San Antonio, the total dedicated park land spans 28,842 acres, which accounts for approximately 9.1% of the city’s overall area. The investment in the city’s park system stands at $140 per resident, surpassing the national median of $133. Residents and visitors can access 356 parks throughout the city, offering a variety of recreational options including numerous parks equipped with playgrounds for families.
Despite these resources, the report indicates challenges regarding park accessibility in San Antonio. Less than half of the city’s residents, specifically 47%, live within a half-mile of a park. This contrasts sharply with the national average for the 100 most populous U.S. cities, where 76% of residents have a park within a 10-minute walk from their homes.
When evaluated on the state level, Plano ranks as the No. 1 park system in Texas and holds the 17th position nationally, with an impressive 81% of its residents living within proximity of a park. Other Texas cities that received commendable rankings include Dallas (2nd in Texas, 34th nationally), Frisco (3rd in Texas, 37th nationally, with 70% of residents near a park), Arlington (4th in Texas, 46th nationally), and Austin (5th in Texas, 54th nationally, with 68% of residents living close to a park).
Conversely, several Texas cities faced lower rankings, such as El Paso at 65th, Houston at 66th, Garland at 67th, Fort Worth at 72nd, Laredo at 76th, Corpus Christi at 77th, Lubbock at 94th, and Irving at 99th in the national context.
The ParkScore report emphasizes the importance of parks for community cohesion and the promotion of both physical and mental health among residents. The availability of parks is often linked to improved well-being within communities, making it critical for cities like San Antonio to enhance accessibility and investment in their public green spaces.
As San Antonio continues to develop its parks, the balance between maintaining existing spaces and creating new ones will be essential in addressing the gaps in accessibility and improving its overall ranking in future assessments. The city’s commitment to improving its park system will have a lasting impact on the quality of life for its residents.
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Additional Resources
- CultureMap San Antonio
- Google Search: San Antonio ParkScore 2025
- Spectrum Local News
- Wikipedia: ParkScore index
- San Antonio Current
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Amusement Park
- KENS 5
- Google Scholar: Public Playgrounds
- Spectrum Local News
- Google News: San Antonio Zoo
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
