Minneapolis, St. Paul Parks Shine in National Report

PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune


When it comes to ball fields, tennis courts and recreation centers, St. Paul and Minneapolis rank at or near the top in those categories and numerous other measures taken by a leading park land conservation organization.

As for land dedicated to parks, 16.6 percent of Minneapolis is parkland, first among cities with immediate-high population densities. St. Paul is second (14.7 percent) in the same density category.

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land today reports the following for the state's two largest cities:

• Recreation centers per 20,000 residents: St. Paul, 1st, 3.0; Minneapolis, 2nd, 2.6.

• Tennis courts per 10,000 residents: Minneapolis, 1st, 4.9; St. Paul, tied for 3rd, 3.7.

• Ball diamonds per 10,000 residents: St. Paul, 1st, 5.6; Minneapolis, 2nd, 5.3.

• Skateboard parks per 100,000 residents: Minneapolis, 3rd, 1.6; St. Paul, 16th, 0.7.

• Park-related spending per resident: St. Paul, 3rd, $224; Minneapolis, 8th, $151.

• Non-seasonal municipal park employees per 1,000 residents: Minneapolis , 5th, 1.56; St. Paul, 14th, 1.08.

The Twin Cities also landed one of its park destinations among the most visited in the nation. The Lake Harriet/Lyndale Park area in Minneapolis receives about 2.25 million visitors a year, placing it 30th.

The Trust for Public Land is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization. It describes its mission as conserving land "for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come."

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482