Top City Parks in America: Explore the Most Loved Green Spaces

Looking for an antidote to museum fatigue? A marvelous green space can truly transform a city visit, giving families a place to spread out with a picnic, ride bikes, kick a ball around, or explore a playground. Here are the most-visited urban parks in America according to the 2015 City Parks Facts report by the Trust for Public Lands, an organization at the forefront of national efforts to create city parks and raise money for local conservation.

Central Park, New York City

With over 42 million annual visitors, 843-acre Central Park in New York City tops the list, featuring miles of strolling paths, sprawling meadows, open-air amphitheaters, playgrounds, and a lake where you can take out a rowboat.

The National Mall, Washington DC

The second most-visited city park in the United States, the National Mall in Washington DC, welcomed over 29 million visitors last year. Its 725 acres include the area between the Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol, alongside landmarks like the Washington Monument and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Lincoln Park, Chicago

Coming in at number 3, Chicago’s Lincoln Park draws 20 million visitors annually. Named for President Lincoln, this 1,200-acre waterfront park stretches for seven miles along Lake Michigan, featuring the Lincoln Park Zoo and North Avenue Beach.

Mission Bay Park, San Diego

San Diego’s 4,235-acre Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, made up of nearly equal areas of land and water. Over 16.5 million annual visitors partake in activities such as wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, jogging, skateboarding, and enjoying the beach.

Forest Park, St. Louis

Open since 1876, Forest Park is renowned as “the heart of St. Louis”. It features a variety of prominent attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center. With 15 million visitors annually, it ties for sixth on the list of most-visited city parks.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Attracting 14.5 million visitors a year, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is the fifth most-visited urban park in the country. Encompassing over three miles wide and half a mile long, it is 20 percent larger than New York’s Central Park and contains attractions such as windmills, waterfalls, two major museums, beautiful gardens, facilities for more than 20 sports, and even a herd of buffalo.

Griffith Park, Los Angeles

Tied for the sixth most-visited city park with 12 million yearly visitors, Griffith Park in Los Angeles is largely wild and rugged, boasting numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, along with golf courses, pony and train rides, tennis courts, picnic grounds, a zoo, an observatory, and much more.

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Drawing 10 million visitors a year, Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park spans an expansive 4,100 acres, including meadows, trails, woodlands, outdoor sculptures, the Philadelphia Zoo, and the Centennial Exposition grounds.

Cleveland Lakefront State Park, Cleveland

Hugging the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland Lakefront State Park provides a serene escape from the Cleveland skyline, featuring sandy beaches, tree-lined picnic spots, and stunning views of the lake. Drawing over 8.4 million visitors annually, it ranks as the ninth most-visited city park in America.

Hermann Park, Houston

Rounding out the top 10, with over 5.9 million annual visitors, is Houston’s Hermann Park. Thanks to its proximity to downtown, the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and the Museum District, this 445-acre urban park serves as a vital resource for many Houstonians. Whether riding the train along the Hermann Park Railroad, visiting the butterfly museum, pedaling around in a pedal boat on McGovern Lake, jogging along the trails, or enjoying serene moments in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park offers countless opportunities for relaxation and recreation.