May 30, 2025

St. Petersburg Achieves 14th Ranking in U.S. Park Quality

News Summary

St. Petersburg ranks 14th among the 100 largest U.S. cities in the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore Index, with a composite score of 70.3. The city excels in park accessibility and amenities, highlighting efforts to provide equitable recreational spaces for residents. Notably, 78% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, with a strong focus on investment in community needs and future park developments.

St. Petersburg Ranks 14th in U.S. for Park Quality with 70.3 Composite Score in 2025 ParkScore Index

St. Petersburg has achieved a notable rank of 14th among the 100 largest cities in the United States according to the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore Index. The city garnered a composite score of 70.3 out of 100, marking a significant recognition of its park system’s quality and accessibility.

The ParkScore Index evaluates the effectiveness of city park systems based on five core criteria: access, investment, amenities, acreage, and equity. Of these categories, St. Petersburg excelled particularly in equity and amenities, showcasing its commitment to providing quality recreational spaces for all residents.

Performance in Key Categories

St. Petersburg’s performance across various categories reveals a mixed landscape. The city scored 69 out of 100 for access, indicating that a significant portion of the population can easily reach parks. Notably, about 78% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. This metric is defined as a half-mile distance along a street network while excluding highways.

Moreover, 81% of residents of color and 78% of low-income households have similar access, highlighting the city’s efforts to ensure equity in recreational spaces. The equity score for St. Petersburg is notably high at 86, emphasizing that neighborhoods with greater populations of color have access to 53% more parkland compared to predominantly white neighborhoods.

Investment in the city’s parks averages $213 per resident per year, which also accounts for the value of volunteer labor contributing to park services. However, the acreage category presents a challenge: only 11.4% of land in St. Petersburg is dedicated to parkland, resulting in a relatively low score of 55 points for this metric. The median park size in the city stands at just 3.5 acres, considerably smaller than the average park size found nationally.

Amenities and Facilities

When it comes to amenities, St. Petersburg scores highly. There are about 6.3 permanent restrooms available per 10,000 residents, and the city has made significant provisions for playgrounds, dog parks, and splash pads. However, it falls short in sports facilities, particularly sports fields and basketball hoops, when compared to cities leading the rankings.

Future Developments and Community Perspectives

The ParkScore Index serves as a tool for municipalities, helping them identify areas needing new park developments, especially in neighborhoods lacking accessible parks and facing environmental issues. Following the Index’s findings, city leaders are actively exploring opportunities for land acquisition and potential expansions of parkland, particularly in underserved areas.

One promising prospect is the Tropicana property, which could allow for an increase in park acreage and enhance the recreational offerings in the area. The community of St. Petersburg has expressed a consensus on the importance of parks, recognizing them as essential hubs that foster public health, environmental equity, and a sense of community pride.

Conclusion

With its ranking in the 2025 ParkScore Index, St. Petersburg highlights both its strengths and challenges in park management and accessibility. Continued investment and strategic planning could elevate the city’s standing further while ensuring equitable access to green spaces for all its residents.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER

ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas 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 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER

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