North Texas cities are continuing to invest heavily in parks and trails, and new national rankings show Collin County communities are seeing the results.
According to the 2026 ParkScore Index from the Trust for Public Land, Plano reached its highest ranking ever, while Frisco, Irving and Fort Worth all moved up from last year.
The annual report evaluates park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities using factors such as access, acreage, amenities and spending.
Plano Reaches An All-Time High
Plano ranked 13th nationally this year, improving from 17th in 2025 and landing among the highest-rated park systems in Texas. The city scored especially well in park access, with 85% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park. Plano also dedicates 10.5% of its land to parks and spends $228 per resident annually on park investment.
The ranking reflects years of expansion across Plano’s trail systems, neighborhood parks and recreational spaces as the city continues balancing growth with quality-of-life projects.
Frisco Continues Investing In Parks
Frisco climbed to 30th nationally after ranking 37th last year. While the city trails Plano in overall park access, with 69% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, Frisco stood out for spending. The city invests $304 per resident on parks, the highest among the major North Texas cities included in the report.
Only 5.2% of Frisco’s land area is reserved for parks, one of the lower totals in the rankings, but continued investment in trails, sports facilities and neighborhood green spaces helped push the city upward.
More North Texas Cities Keep Moving Up
Six of the seven Dallas-Fort Worth cities measured in the report improved their rankings this year.
Irving made the largest jump nationally, climbing 28 spots to 71st after increased investment tied to its “Let’s Play Irving” initiative. Fort Worth rose 14 spots to 58th following new park funding and expanded agreements opening school playgrounds to the public after hours.
Dallas ranked 38th nationally and continues to outperform national averages in park access, acreage and investment. According to the report, Dallas has connected roughly 330,000 additional residents to parks or trails within a 10-minute walk over the past decade.
“Texas is proving that park access is not a coastal priority. It is a Texas priority,” said Texas State Director and Associate Vice President of Trust for Public Land Molly Morgan. “Cities across the Lone Star State are making serious investments, opening new parks, partnering with school districts, and closing gaps that have existed for decades. They’re showing what’s possible when Texas gets serious about parks.”
Parks Are Becoming A Bigger Priority
The report arrives as North Texas cities continue dealing with rapid population growth and increasing demand for outdoor space.
For fast-growing Collin County cities like Plano and Frisco, the rankings prove that parks are becoming more than an amenity. They are increasingly part of how cities compete for residents, employers and long-term quality of life.
Don’t miss anything Local. Sign up for our free newsletter.