DC ranks as top city for public parks as Trump’s efforts focus on beautification

Washington, D.C., has once again ranked as the nation’s top city for public parks, according to the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, notching first place for the sixth year in a row.

Simultaneously, the look of the nation’s capital is being upended by President Donald Trump’s beautification efforts, including renovations and proposed construction projects at several iconic national landmarks and public spaces, some of which are facing approval hurdles.

The nonprofit found that 99% of D.C. residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, one of the highest access rates in the country. The city also spends $449 per capita annually on publicly accessible parks, a figure boosted in part by federal funding.

Parks and green spaces make up 21.5% of the District, which is home to 693 parks and green spaces overall. The Trust for Public Land scores park systems based on access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment.