San Antonio Gets Low Parkscore, Could Shared Use Be Part of the Solution?

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According to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national non-profit dedicated to conserving land for public, San Antonio ranks low when it comes to park access.

A report released by the TPL found that out of the 60 largest cities in the nation, that San Antonio ranked 53rd, according to the methods it used to measure park acreage, access, service and investment.

According to Peter Harnik, director of the Center for City Park Excellence, San Antonio’s biggest problem is not park acreage, but rather access to parks.

“For San Antonio, about 35 percent can walk within a half-mile to a park,” Harnik said in a San Antonio Express-News article.

Alternatively, the city has 24,622 acres of parkland, many hike and bike trails throughout the city, and a Missions Reach trail.

Because San Antonio is predominantly Latino and Latino kids often lack safe active spaces, kids in the city can benefit greatly from having easy access to parks. Policies like shared use agreements between the city and community partners like local school districts, churches, and local organizations, can really make a difference in providing easier access to physical activity and recreational opportunities.

Read what 6 experts have to say about why parks matter for health here.

To learn more, check out Salud America’s Growing Healthy Change, active spaces resources. Read the full San Antonio Express News article about the city’s park score here.