Key takeaways
- New York City has the largest park budget of any US city: about $2.1 billion a year across all agencies, according to Trust for Public Land's 2026 ParkScore.
- Chicago (about $675 million) and Los Angeles (about $479 million) come next by total park investment.
- San Francisco ($476), Washington, DC ($449) and Seattle ($440) spend the most per resident among the cities listed here.
- Jacksonville, Phoenix and San Diego have the most park acreage on this list; Jacksonville has more than 87,000 acres.
Largest city park and recreation systems
Big-city park systems ranked by total annual park investment, a three-year average that Trust for Public Land compiles from every public agency and private group spending on parks in the city. The primary city agency is listed under each city. Search by city, agency or state.
Showing all 22 park systems
| # | City | Annual park investment | Per resident | Park acres | 2026 ParkScore | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NYNYC Parks | $2.1 billion | $247 | 32,298 (17.4% of city) | #20 | TPL ParkScore |
| 2 | Chicago, ILChicago Park District | $675 million | $252 | 12,540 (9.1% of city) | #10 | TPL ParkScore |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CALos Angeles Recreation and Parks | $479 million | $125 | 39,905 (13.4% of city) | #93 | TPL ParkScore |
| 4 | San Francisco, CASan Francisco Recreation and Park Department | $410 million | $476 | 6,371 (21.4% of city) | #6 | TPL ParkScore |
| 5 | San Diego, CACity of San Diego Parks and Recreation | $372 million | $268 | 43,364 (21.0% of city) | #17 | TPL ParkScore |
| 6 | Seattle, WASeattle Parks and Recreation | $337 million | $440 | 6,438 (12.2% of city) | #8 | TPL ParkScore |
| 7 | Washington, DCDC Department of Parks and Recreation, plus National Park Service land | $314 million | $449 | 8,398 (21.5% of city) | #1 | TPL ParkScore |
| 8 | Houston, TXHouston Parks and Recreation Department | $312 million | $137 | 43,153 (12.2% of city) | #69 | TPL ParkScore |
| 9 | Austin, TXAustin Parks and Recreation | $238 million | $236 | 19,318 (9.5% of city) | #47 | TPL ParkScore |
| 10 | Dallas, TXDallas Park and Recreation | $223 million | $170 | 23,449 (11.0% of city) | #38 | TPL ParkScore |
| 11 | San Antonio, TXSan Antonio Parks and Recreation | $220 million | $152 | 28,830 (9.1% of city) | #61 | TPL ParkScore |
| 12 | Portland, ORPortland Parks & Recreation | $213 million | $322 | 13,015 (15.7% of city) | #9 | TPL ParkScore |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Parks & Recreation | $191 million | $120 | 11,456 (13.6% of city) | #27 | TPL ParkScore |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZPhoenix Parks and Recreation | $186 million | $112 | 51,075 (15.5% of city) | #87 | TPL ParkScore |
| 15 | Denver, CODenver Parks & Recreation | $180 million | $241 | 7,547 (10.3% of city) | #11 | TPL ParkScore |
| 16 | Atlanta, GAAtlanta Department of Parks and Recreation | $164 million | $312 | 7,024 (8.1% of city) | #18 | TPL ParkScore |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FLJacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services | $154 million | $154 | 87,068 (19.0% of city) | #60 | TPL ParkScore |
| 18 | Minneapolis, MNMinneapolis Park and Recreation Board | $150 million | $346 | 5,378 (15.6% of city) | #3 | TPL ParkScore |
| 19 | Boston, MABoston Parks and Recreation Department | $138 million | $206 | 6,061 (20.6% of city) | #12 | TPL ParkScore |
| 20 | San Jose, CASan José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services | $123 million | $122 | 18,150 (17.0% of city) | #49 | TPL ParkScore |
| 21 | Fort Worth, TXFort Worth Park & Recreation | $121 million | $122 | 14,049 (6.4% of city) | #58 | TPL ParkScore |
| 22 | Detroit, MICity of Detroit parks and recreation | $87 million | $139 | 5,031 (5.7% of city) | #53 | TPL ParkScore |
About these numbers
- Investment covers operating and capital spending by city agencies, other public agencies, private conservancies and monetized volunteer hours, averaged over three years (TPL methodology).
- Park acres include all publicly accessible parkland inside city limits, including county, state and federal land.
- ParkScore ranks the 100 most populous cities on access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity; #1 is the best-rated system.
- County, regional and special-district park agencies (such as the East Bay Regional Park District or Cook County Forest Preserves) also buy heavily but aren't ranked here.
Selling to parks and recreation departments
Parks departments buy playgrounds and site furnishings, turf and grounds equipment, irrigation, lighting, aquatics, recreation and registration software, security, maintenance services and design and construction.
- Follow the capital plan and bonds. Big park projects are funded through capital improvement plans, park bonds and dedicated levies, often years ahead.
- Know the split. Planning and design, maintenance and operations, and recreation programs often have different decision-makers.
- Use cooperative contracts. Playground, fitness and grounds equipment is commonly bought through Sourcewell, BuyBoard, OMNIA Partners and state contracts.
- Watch grants. State park grants and federal programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund pay for many projects.
See cooperative contracts by category and largest cities.
Sources
- Trust for Public Land, City Park Facts
- TPL, City Park Facts methodology (May 2026)
- Each city's 2026 ParkScore profile, linked in the table above
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