A cyclist enjoys the biking trail along Lake Michigan in Chicago’s Burnham Park. Chicago received three and half park benches on Park Score. Photo: Steven Vance, Flickr
ParkScore measures how well the 50 largest U.S. cities meet their residents’ need for parks.
The rating system evaluated the parks of several cities from Great Lakes states on size, ease of access and city investment.
The ratings are designed to help local communities identify where parks are needed and improve services for existing parks.
On the Parkscore website, cities are rated on a scale of zero to five park benches. For example, one bench means the city’s park system needs major improvement, while five benches indicate an excellent park system.
Chicago and Milwaukee, cities along the shore of Lake Michigan, received three and half and three park benches, respectively. Cleveland, with parks on Lake Erie, and Detroit, part of a major Great Lakes connecting channel, only received two and half park benches.
ParkScore features only the country’s most populous cities. But smaller communities certainly have great park systems. How about it, Echo readers?
Which Great Lakes cities or towns, regardless of size, deserve five park benches? Which don’t make the cut? Make your case in the comment section below.