St. Petersburg, FL (May 2021) – The City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department’s emphasis on preserving and enhancing parkland and providing engaging recreational opportunities for all who live, work and play in the Sunshine City did not go unnoticed by The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit with a mission to “create parks and protect land for people,” that ranked St. Petersburg No. 1 in Florida and No. 14 nationally in this year’s ParkScore® index.
The 2021 ParkScore® index analyzed 100 of the largest U.S. cities using mapping technology and demographic date to determine how well each city is meeting the needs for parks. Each city was scored in five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.
St. Petersburg ranked higher thank several major cities known for their active and outdoor lifestyle, including Austin, TX, San Diego, CA and Denver, CO. The Trust for Public Land gave St. Petersburg a 78 out of 100 in investment and 78 out of 100 in equity. According to the ParkScore® index, “75% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park” in St. Petersburg.
The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department uses placemaking to create inclusive and equitably accessible parkland and recreational opportunities for the community to play, learn and explore as well as working to environmentally protect greenspaces for future generations to enjoy.
“Our parks and recreation teams work hard to provide a healthy, protected, sustainable and inclusive parks and recreation system for our community and visitors. From our amenities to the Healthy St. Pete fitness classes and community events and more, St. Pete’s parks offer something for everyone,” said Mike Jefferis, Leisure Services Administrator.
For more details about St. Petersburg’s ParkScore®, visit www.tpl.org/city/st-petersburg-florida.
About the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department
The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, and with 17 recreation facilities, nine swimming pools, over 150 parks and more than 70 athletic fields, the department makes it a mission to preserve and enhance the city’s parklands and recreational facilities and engage the community in leisure activities. Visit www.StPeteParksRec.org to learn more.
About the City of St. Petersburg
One of Florida’s largest cities, the City of St. Petersburg is a city of opportunity where the sun shines on all who come to live, work and play. It’s an innovative, creative and competitive community that honors its past while pursuing its future. Visit www.StPete.org to learn more.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kari Fuhrmann, Marketing & Information Specialist
727-893-7918
kari.fuhrmann@stpete.org