By Amanda Proscia
Great Lakes cities lead the way when it comes to city parks, according to a recent report.
Madison beat cities like Chicago and New York to rank first in the number of playgrounds (7.2 per 10,000 residents), beaches (4.9 per 100,000 residents) and basketball hoops (10.6 per 10,000 residents) per capita, according to the report by The Trust for Public Land.
It’s also on the national top 10 lists for dog parks (4.1 per 100,000 residents), disc golf courses (1.2 per 100,000 residents), tennis courts (3.8 per 10,000 residents) and community garden plots (28.7 per 10,000 residents).
The Twin Cities are on multiple lists, too. Minneapolis ranks behind Madison for number of beaches per capita with three per 100,000 residents. It’s also on the national top 10 lists for the amount of playgrounds (2.8 per 10,000 residents), baseball diamonds (4.9 per 10,000 residents), tennis courts (4.5 per 10,000 residents) and recreation and senior centers (2.5 per 20,000 residents).
It’s the only non-western city on the top 10 list for skateboard parks with 1.5 per 100,000 residents.
St. Paul is first in the country for baseball diamonds per capita with 5.4 per 10,000 residents. It’s also on the top 10 list for the number of senior and recreation centers with 1.8 per 20,000 residents.
Cincinnati has the most nature centers in the country with two per every 100,000 residents. It’s also in the top 10 for number of baseball diamonds (3.6 per 10,000 residents), basketball hoops (4.7 per 10,000 residents) and swimming pools (8.7 per 100,000 residents).
Cleveland leads the country in the number of swimming pools with 10.8 for every 100,000 residents and is on the top 10 lists for baseball diamonds (3.6 per 10,000 residents) and beaches (1.3 per 100,000 residents).
Other Great Lakes cities making national top 10 lists:
- Number of basketball hoops: Buffalo, ranks fifth with 5.8 per 10,000 residents
- Number of recreation and senior centers: Chicago ranks seventh with 1.8 per 20,000 residents
- Disc golf: Milwaukee ranks sixth with 1.8 per 100,000 residents