Arlington Climbs 29 Spots in National ParkScore Rankings

Published on May 20, 2026

The City of Arlington has jumped from 74th to 44th in the Trust for Public Land's (TPL) ParkScore® rankings over the past three years, reflecting sustained investment in green space and the City's commitment to making parks accessible to every resident.

Arlington now ranks 4th in Texas among major cities, behind only Plano, Dallas, and Frisco. TPL’s ParkScore® rankings were released on May 20. Arlington earned a perfect score of 100 out of 100 points for median park size, placing it among the highest in the nation in that category. Seventy-one percent of Arlington residents now live within a half-mile walk of a park.

"This is a tremendous achievement that reflects years of deliberate investment and community focus," said Gary Packan, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture. "Climbing 30 spots in three years is the result of strategic planning, dedicated staff, and a City Council that understands parks are essential infrastructure. When 71% of our residents are within a half-mile walk to a park, we are building a healthier, more connected Arlington.”

The rise in rankings directly supports the City Council's priority to Strengthen Our Communities, which emphasizes inclusive neighborhoods, empowered youth and families, and vibrant public spaces where all residents can thrive. Walkable parks strengthen neighborhood bonds, encourage active living, and ensure every part of Arlington remains a place where people want to live, work, and play.

The City continues to build on this momentum. In June, Arlington will celebrate the grand opening of Al Rollins Park, a 2.4-acre neighborhood park adjacent to the Southwest Branch Library. The park honors Al Rollins, who served the city from 1956 to 1967 in roles including City Engineer, Director of Public Works, and City Manager, before co-founding Schrickel, Rollins and Associates, a civil engineering and landscape architecture firm whose work has shaped public spaces throughout Arlington for decades. Park amenities include playgrounds for ages 2–5 and 5–12, interactive pipe park sign, 0.14-mile long, 8-foot-wide walking trail, dry creek with native plantings, pollinator and wildflower gardens, and open green space for passive recreation.

The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore® index rates the park systems of the 100 most populated U.S. cities across five categories: access, acreage, investment, amenities, and equity. For more information about Arlington's parks and programs, visit NaturallyFun.org.