Minneapolis and St. Paul parks rank consistently among the best in the nation, and this year is no exception.
According to the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, the Minneapolis park system ranked third and the St. Paul public park system ranked fifth in the 100 most populous cities in the nation for 2025.
Those cities are ranked on five factors: park access, park equity, park acreage, park investment, and park amenities.
In both Minneapolis and St. Paul, 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk from a park. That’s significantly higher than the national average of 76%.
Similarly, both cities are above the national average of spending $133 on parks per resident. Minneapolis is at $324, and St. Paul is at $248.
“This national recognition reflects our city’s unwavering commitment to equity, environmental stewardship, and expanding access to parks and green spaces for all,” Andy Rodriguez, Director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, says. “We believe parks are essential to building healthy, connected communities, and we’re proud to be recognized for our work to ensure every resident has access to vibrant, welcoming public spaces.”
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com
