City of Lincoln moves up to 25th place in national park rankings

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department on Wednesday announced it has improved its ranking among the nation’s best park systems.

According to the Trust for Public Land 2026 ParkScore Index, Lincoln improved to 25th place from 29th place last year.

The city said the ParkScore index is compiled annually by the organization, and it measures how well the top 100 most populous U.S. cities are meeting residents’ needs for quality parks and recreational areas.

To determine a city’s ParkScore rating, cities are assigned points for 15 measures across five categories: acreage, investment, amenities, access and equity.

“Lincoln’s rise into the top 25 is a reflection of our community’s longstanding commitment to building parks that truly serve everyone,” said Maggie Stuckey-Ross, Parks and Recreation Director. “We are proud of this progress and grateful to the staff and partners whose dedication keeps our park system strong.”

The city said this year’s results highlight several strengths in Lincoln’s park system:

• Nearly 90% of Lincoln residents live within a 10-minute walking distance of a park
• Lincoln received standout national scores for basketball courts, playgrounds and overall access to park space across neighborhoods. 

For more information about the Trust for Public Land, visit tpl.org.