Richmond, VA – The annual report evaluates park systems based on access, investment, amenities, acreage, and equity. In the 2024 Park Score Index, Richmond achieved 62.3 points out of 100 across these five categories, with 14 possible measures for points.
This score marks a significant improvement, jumping 17 points from 2023 and 23 points from the previous year. Richmond’s substantial progress in park access and resources is due to several key efforts:
1. The City’s initiative to eliminate the 10-minute walkability gap by establishing parks in underserved neighborhoods.
2. The advancement of four community center capital projects enabled by the American Recovery Plan Act.
3. The addition of over 80 acres of park lands in south Richmond and the James River Park System.
Richmond’s most notable increase was in the Investment category, where the city earned 47 points, up by 9 points from 2023.
The city boosted its per capita spending on Parks and Recreation from $99 to $135, meeting the national average. Additionally, Richmond saw an improvement in the percentage of low-income households within a 10-minute walk of a park.
With new acreage added to the Parks and Recreation inventory, including Broad Rock Creek Park in the 8th District, residents of South Richmond now have greater access to greenspace than in previous years.
