When Wendy Ng made the move to Irvine in 2018, the city’s expansive green spaces were a major factor. The stunning city of Irvine, located in Southern California, is home to numerous walking trails, providing easy access to recreational activities and safe spaces for running at any hour. The Trust for Public Land, a renowned national nonprofit, recently ranked Irvine at No. 4 in the country for green spaces, outranking other cities in the region such as Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, Riverside, and Anaheim. In 2022, Irvine climbed to the eighth position, while Washington D.C. took the top spot.
The rankings consider five categories: access, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities. The Equity category is particularly critical, as it ensures that communities of color and low-income neighborhoods have equal access to green spaces, contributing to better health outcomes. The ranking evaluates how easy it is for individuals to access parks in a city, whether parks are available in low-income neighborhoods, and how much a city invests in parks per resident.
According to the Trust for Public Land, Irvine increased its ranking due to the availability of green spaces to its residents. This year, 94% of Irvine’s residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park, compared to last year’s statistic of 89%. In terms of investment, the city of Irvine spent $284 per resident on parks and recreation in 2023, compared to $185 last year. Irvine is home to 22 community parks, more than 40 neighborhood parks, and a total of 11,008 acres dedicated to parkland.
Parks play a crucial role in maintaining one’s health and fitness, as highlighted by Wendy Ng. As a busy plastic surgeon, Ng often runs in the city’s many trails or exercises with a fitness group to keep up with her health routine. On the other hand, Virginia Webber, a resident since 1989, often used the parks when her children were younger. The parks have grown to accommodate the needs of the community and are now perfect for hosting family outings and other recreational activities.
Anaheim, the most populous city in Orange County, dropped to 68th place in the rankings this year, citing a lack of green spaces. However, the city has plans to add around 10 acres of park space, including a 3.5-acre park at River Park and an additional 2.5 acres at Boysen Park. The city will also turn the underutilized River Park area into a new park and add an exercise loop, a walking trail, and a butterfly garden to Center Greens. The upcoming $4 billion OCVibe development project will also add 20 acres of open space and parkland to Anaheim by 2028. Although Anaheim scored poorly in park equity, the city remains committed to providing access to all its residents through initiatives such as Project S.A.Y.
Overall, Irvine’s dedication to green spaces and parks showcases a commitment to environmental sustainability, equity, health and wellbeing, and community building. With Irvine’s continued dedication, its park system will continue to be a valuable resource to residents and visitors for years to come.
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