USA TODAY 10Best
America's urban retreats: 10 best city parks in the country
Best City Park (2024)
City parks provide space to connect with nature and the community. And the best of these verdant havens offers a variety of activities and attractions for residents and visitors, from playgrounds and community gardens to sports courts and live performances.
To find the top parks in the nation, we asked a panel of experts for nominations, then readers voted for their favorites. These are the 10 best city parks in the U.S. for 2024.
- Loring Park - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Falls Park on the Reedy - Greenville, South Carolina
- Bruce Park - Greenwich, Connecticut
- Railroad Park - Birmingham, Alabama
- Ala Moana Regional Park - Honolulu, Hawaii
- Klyde Warren Park - Dallas, Texas
- Wildwood Preserve Metropark - Toledo, Ohio
- Forest Park - St. Louis, Missouri
- Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, California
- Gathering Place - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Photo courtesy of Lane Pelovsky Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
No. 10:
Loring Park is a beautiful space set in the charming Minneapolis neighborhood of the same name. You'll find plenty to do here with amenities like tennis courts, a wading pool, an ice rink, shuffleboard, a fishing pier, basketball courts, and plenty of biking and walking paths. The park is home to an annual art festival, and the Twin Cities Pride Festival and winter Holidazzle events are held here. You'll also find a bike share and free library in this city oasis.
Photo courtesy of VisitGreenvilleSC
No. 9:
Mayors visit from all over the country to study Greenville's redeveloped riverfront. The small but scenic Reedy River passes through the heart of downtown, with its surprising waterfalls best viewed from an award-winning pedestrian suspension bridge that spans the cascades within Falls Park.
Photo courtesy of Guillermo Novella
No. 8:
This 60-acre park in Greenwich offers a variety of activities, plus a scenic view of Long Island Sound. Walkers and joggers will enjoy the marked and measured trail, and ponds and wooded areas offer visitors a peaceful getaway. Tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a croquet court, a baseball diamond, and playgrounds are available for those more athletically inclined, and picnic areas are provided with tables and grills. Visit the hilltop gazebo, or pick a bench to sit, read, and meditate in the beautiful surroundings.
Photo courtesy of Will Lochamy
No. 7:
Formerly the site of a rail waste yard, this 19-acre green space honors the industrial and artistic heritage of Birmingham. Known also as "Birmingham's Living Room," the park is home to concerts and cultural events like Symphony in the Summer and Magic City Wine Fest. There are pathways for walking and running here, you'll find picnic facilities, and the Rail Trail offers great views of the passing trains. Fittingly, much of the park was created with reclaimed materials from the site’s industrial past.
Photo courtesy of Nate Serota
No. 6:
Ala Moana, a 119-acre public park in Honolulu, boasts a gorgeous white sand beach, which is staffed by lifeguards, making it a popular swimming choice. Amenities here include showers, tennis courts, picnic tables, and food concessions, and there are plenty of places under the palm trees to barbecue and chill out.
Photo courtesy of Cash Sirois
No. 5:
Perched atop a sunken freeway, this nationally acclaimed 5-acre oasis is just one of the examples of what makes Dallas' downtown area so dynamic. The park was opened in 2012 to encourage more pedestrian foot traffic to the area, and to serve as a central gathering place for locals and visitors to enjoy. There are special areas within the park allocated for kids, for dogs, and even for playing board games. A variety of food trucks park alongside.
Photo courtesy of Destination Toledo
No. 4:
Set over 493 acres of a former family estate, Wildwood Preserve is Toledo's most visited park. Facilities include a FitPark with climbing and balance equipment, a vast trail system for bicycling and walking, a playground, and the Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden. Even more interesting are the park's historical attractions, like the 1938 Wildwood Manor House and the one-room Oak Grove School house, both part of Wildwood's storied history.
Photo courtesy of Explore St. Louis
No. 3:
Located in the heart of St. Louis, Forest Park encompasses around 1,300 acres of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in the United States — over 1.5 times the size of New York's Central Park. The green space is widely used for outdoor recreation and features bicycle paths, jogging trails, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. Visitors can also enjoy boat rentals and, in the winter, ice skating.
Photo courtesy of San Francisco Travel Association
No. 2:
Designated a National Historic Landmark, San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park is a wonderful urban oasis. Set amongst its 1,000-plus acres of wooded trails and bicycling and walking paths, you'll also find the renowned de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and even the picturesque Japanese Tea Garden. There are tennis courts, disc golf, a lake for boating, large athletic fields by the beach, and it might be the only park in the country with a bison paddock! Enjoy a live music festival, visit the National AIDS Memorial Grove, or just stroll the 3 miles across this amazing piece of urban greenery.
Photo courtesy of Gathering Place
No. 1:
Gathering Place, a riverfront park in Tulsa, was designed as an inclusive green space where residents and visitors alike can relax and engage with one another. The expansive park features more than 6 million gallons of water and 80 tree species, with attractions and amenities like fireplaces, a 5-acre adventure playground, boathouse, a pond, sensory garden, and a reading tree.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based... Read More
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Kirstie and Christine of On Airplane Mode Travels
Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz are award-winning... Read More
Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz are award-winning LGBTQ+ travel creators and trailblazers, using their platform, On Airplane Mode, to inspire others to follow their passions while celebrating their unique identities. With the leading LGBTQ+ travel platform in the US, they have a thriving community of over 650,000+ followers. The dynamic duo craft unique storytelling content that resonates with diverse audiences, sparking positive transformation within the travel industry, making it a more inclusive and vibrant space.
Kirstie and Christine of On Airplane Mode Travels
Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz are award-winning LGBTQ+ travel creators and trailblazers, using their platform, On Airplane Mode, to inspire others to follow their passions while celebrating their unique identities. With the leading LGBTQ+ travel platform in the US, they have a thriving community of over 650,000+ followers. The dynamic duo craft unique storytelling content that resonates with diverse audiences, sparking positive transformation within the travel industry, making it a more inclusive and vibrant space.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music... Read More
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
Marla Cimini
Marla is a writer with a passion for travel, music and culinary adventures (and combining those whenever possible)! As an avid globetrotter, she encourages respecting and learning about other cultures while traveling. She has visited Hawaii multiple times, and has explored destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean region, South America, Asia and more. Marla is a contributor to Fodor’s Hawaii guidebooks (Oahu and Kauai 2020) and her articles have appeared in a number of international publications. She calls New Jersey (Philadelphia area) home. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter and read her travel tips and adventures on her website.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Read More
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
