St. Pete parks rank high in access and equity, lag in acreage

St. Petersburg ranked 14th out of the 100 largest U.S. cities in the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore Index, receiving a composite score of 70.3 out of 100. The annual report measures the quality and accessibility of city park systems using five criteria: access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity.

St. Petersburg performed best in the categories of equity and amenities. It also scored well in access and investment. Acreage remained the city’s lowest-ranked category.

According to the index, 78 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. That walkability rate helped the city score 69 out of 100 in access, well above many peer cities. The index defines “walkable” as a half-mile distance along a street network, excluding barriers like highways.

The city’s park system is also considered relatively equitable. People of color and low-income households are more likely to live near parks in St. Pete than in most other cities. About 81 percent of residents of color live within a 10-minute walk of a park. For low-income households, the figure is 78 percent. St. Petersburg received 86 points in the equity category. That included perfect scores in distribution of park space: neighborhoods of color have 53 percent more nearby parkland than white neighborhoods, and low-income neighborhoods have 30 percent more park space than high-income neighborhoods.

While the city’s proximity and distribution of parks are strong, total acreage remains a weak point. Only 11.4 percent of the city’s land is devoted to parkland. The national average among peer cities is higher. St. Petersburg earned 55 points for that metric. The median park size in the city is just 3.5 acres, far below the national median. That brought the acreage score down to 42 points out of 100.

The chart below summarizes scores across all five categories:

Investment in parks is relatively strong. Across all agencies and organizations, the city spends $213 per resident each year to maintain and improve parks. That figure includes monetized volunteer labor. The city scored 76 points in the investment category.

In terms of amenities, St. Petersburg also did well. It scored above average in nearly every sub-category. The city received the highest possible score for permanent restrooms, which are available at a rate of 6.3 per 10,000 residents. Playgrounds, dog parks, and splashpads were also well represented. However, the city underperformed in sports fields and basketball hoops compared to top-ranked cities.

ParkScore priority areas for new parks.

The ParkScore Index also includes a map of “very high priority” areas for new park development. These zones tend to coincide with neighborhoods that lack walkable park access and also face other challenges, including poor air quality, urban heat and higher rates of mental and physical health concerns. The Trust for Public Land recommends focusing new park creation in those areas to improve public health and environmental equity.

The ParkScore rankings aggregate data from both public and private entities that contribute to a city’s park system. That includes city departments, nonprofit organizations and other landowners who allow public access.

Overall, St. Petersburg’s 14th-place ranking reflects a park system that is accessible and relatively well-funded but limited in total land area. City leaders have indicated they will continue to explore opportunities for land acquisition and park expansion, particularly in underserved zones.

For more information and interactive maps, visit the Trust for Public Land’s page for St. Petersburg: tpl.org/city/st-petersburg-florida.