The Trust for Public Land released its annual ParkScore Index on May 20, ranking the City of Irvine’s park system as the second best in the United States for the second consecutive year.
Established in 1972, the non-profit organization Trust for Public Land is dedicated to ensuring that people in both big cities and small towns have access to nature and outdoor spaces right in their own neighborhoods. The ParkScore Index is considered a national gold standard for evaluating the park systems of the top hundred cities in the United States, covering five major indicators including parkland acreage, accessibility, equity, funding, and amenities.
Irvine’s park system has ranked in the top ten of the ParkScore Index for the 11th time, with scores of 77, 92, 68, 100, and 84 out of 100 in the five indicators respectively.
“We are proud to see Irvine once again receive national recognition for its outstanding park facilities,” Mayor Larry Agran stated. “We will continue to invest in building parks and open spaces to enhance the quality of life for residents. These exceptional public spaces have made our community stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient.”
Irvine received a perfect score in park investment, with an annual per capita expenditure of $697 on parks and recreational facilities, ranking among the top in the nation. According to World Population Review data, Irvine’s population is around 320,000 in 2026, with the city experiencing a population growth rate of 0.8% amidst a decrease in California’s overall population.
The Great Park in Irvine, the largest municipal park in the United States, is still under construction; 8 pickleball courts at the Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge have been opened this year; the extension of Jeffrey Open Space Trail is set to be completed this summer, connecting this linear park with existing bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Furthermore, Irvine’s first indoor sports arena is planned to open to the public in early 2027.
In terms of park accessibility, Irvine scored 92 points, with a survey finding that 94% of residents can walk half a mile to reach a park and 94% of people of color and 91% of low-income households can walk 10 minutes to get to a park.
For park amenities, Irvine scored 84, higher than the average level, and received a perfect score in the number of basketball hoops (469), playgrounds (197), and senior leisure centers (25) throughout the city. Additionally, there are 186 public restrooms in parks citywide.
Washington D.C. ranked first nationwide with a total score of 85.1; scoring 100 in investment and 99 in accessibility, but only 55 in park acreage.
In second place, Irvine has a total score of 84.1; scoring 100 in investment, 92 in acreage, and the lowest in equity with 68.
Minneapolis, Minnesota ranked third with a total score of 83.4; scoring 100 in investment, 99 in acreage, 95 in amenities, and only 59 in equity.
St. Paul, also in Minnesota, ranked fourth with a total score of 83.2; scoring 100 in investment, 99 in accessibility, but only 59 in acreage.
Cincinnati, Ohio ranked fifth with a total score of 81.2; scoring 99 in amenities, 88 in accessibility, and 63 in acreage.
San Francisco, California ranked sixth with a total score of 80; scoring 100 in investment and accessibility, but the lowest score in acreage at 54.
Arlington, Virginia ranked seventh with a total score of 76.1; scoring 99 in accessibility, 97 in investment, and the lowest in acreage at 37.
Seattle, Washington ranked eighth with a total score of 75.4; scoring 100 in investment and accessibility, and 53 in acreage and amenities.
Portland, Oregon ranked ninth with a total score of 75.1; scoring 100 in investment, but the lowest in equity at 56.
Chicago, Illinois ranked tenth; scoring 99 in equity, 98 in accessibility, but the lowest in acreage at 28 and amenities at 69.