Fort Worth's ParkScore Rating Climbs 33 Spots in Two Years

The City of Fort Worth is now ranked No. 58 in the nation for its park system.

The city published a blog post celebrating the achievement on Tuesday. According to the post, the city's 2026 ParkScore ranking was No. 58, improving from No. 72 in 2025 and No. 91 in 2024.

That means the city's park system has jumped 33 spots in just two years. Released by the Trust for Public Land, the ParkScore index measures park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities using data points such as park access, acreage, investment, amenities, and equity.

The city attributes part of the improvement to Mayor Mattie Parker's Good Natured Initiative, which aims to increase and enhance the city's parks and green spaces.

The initiative also focuses on partnerships with organizations, including the Trust for Public Land, Fort Worth Independent School District, Tarrant Regional Water District, Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Streams and Valleys, Fort Worth Mountain Bikers Association, Downtown Fort Worth Inc., and other public and nonprofit partners that helped document and expand recognized public access to parks, trails, and recreation amenities.

A major factor in the increase this year was the city's shared-use agreement with the Fort Worth Independent School District. The agreement expanded access to recreational facilities throughout the city, while also laying the groundwork for future partnerships with additional school districts.

"Fort Worth's continued rise in the ParkScore rankings reflects our commitment to building a park system that serves every neighborhood," said Parker. "Through partnerships, long-term planning, and targeted investments supported by our Good Natured Framework, we are creating more opportunities for residents to connect with nature, recreation, and each other."