Every year, more parks are popping up in cities all over the U.S., providing great outdoor spaces for us to enjoy. In fact, last year alone, the 100 largest U.S. cities had a whopping 23,727 parks in total!
We all know how important parks are – not only for physical health, but for mental health too. A Dutch study showed that folks living in areas with fewer green spaces have higher rates of depression and anxiety. It’s alarming to think that if you live more than half a mile away from a green space, your stress levels could be almost 50% higher than those who live just a short stroll away from one.
But despite knowing all these health benefits, there’s still a park shortage in many U.S. cities. Can you believe that over 11 million people living in major U.S. cities don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk?
Championing parks goes beyond just creating more of them. It’s about making them safe, clean, and well-equipped with essentials like bathrooms, drinking fountains, and benches. Dutchbulbs.com carried out a survey using Yelp ratings to find out which cities have the best public parks.
They found out that Birmingham in Alabama takes the crown. It owns 26 parks, covering more than 10% of the city’s total land. Plus, according to residents, their parks are top-notch, scoring an average of 4.97 out of 5. Their Birmingham Botanical Gardens is especially loved, renowned for its variety of themed gardens.
Hot on Birmingham’s heels is Seattle, with an average Yelp rating of 4.387. Rain or shine, Seattle six a huge number of parks and trails, making up around 12% of the city’s total area.
In third place is Dallas, with its parks earning a respectable average rating of 4.38 stars. With nearly 400 parks and more than 20,000 acres of outdoor space, it’s no wonder that Dallas made it to the top three.
Not to forget Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Chicago. They also scored highly, boasting some of the best parks in the country. To see where your city stacks up, you can check the full list.
Remember: cities need parks, and we need parks. Here’s hoping more cities work towards creating amazing green spaces for us all to enjoy. Believe me – it’s worth it!
