Fort Worth’s park system jumps in national rankings
Improvements to Fort Worth’s park system gave the city a huge boost in a national ranking from the outdoor advocacy nonprofit Trust For Public Land.
The annual list the 100 best city park systems saw Fort Worth jump from 72nd to 58th due in large part to a partnership between the city of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth school district, according to a Trust For Public Land press release.
The city of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth school district entered into a partnership in November 2025 to increase park access by making playgrounds at 70 schools available outside of school hours.
This helped increase the percentage of residents within a 10-minute walk to a park to 73% up from 40% in 2022.
Fort Worth’s ranking could improve even more in future years because of the passage of a $185 million bond proposition dedicated to park and open space improvements, the press release said.
“The improvement is really a combination of strategic investments, stronger partnerships and better data,” said city park director Dave Lewis in a press release.
The city has become more intentional about park access and amenities, Lewis said, adding this has helped with the city’s ranking.
“Fort Worth’s continued rise in the ParkScore rankings reflects our commitment to building a park system that serves every neighborhood,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in the city’s press release.
“Through partnerships, long-term planning, and targeted investments supported by our Good Natured framework, we are creating more opportunities for residents to connect with nature, recreation and each other,” she said.
The Trust for Public Land evaluates cities’ park systems based on number of parks, percentage of residents within a 10-minute walk to a park, percentage of city land dedicated to parks, access to park amenities like playgrounds and ball courts and per-resident park spending.
Almost every Metroplex city improved their ranking from the previous year’s list. Irving saw the biggest jump from 99th to 71st.
Irving’s rise was attributed to increased park investment from its “Let’s Play Irving” initiative, which upped the city’s park spending from $90 per resident in 2025 to $277 per resident in 2026, according to the press release.
Dallas slipped in the rankings, dropping from 34th to 38th.
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