Total spending includes both operating and capital spending by all park agencies in the city, but excludes professional sports stadiums, zoos, museums, aquariums, and cemeteries.
Release date is date of access.
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Cities that spent the most on parks and recreation in the U.S. 2024
In 2024, New York City had the highest public park and recreation spending of any city in the United States at approximately *** billion U.S. dollars. Second in the ranking was Chicago, Illinois, which spent around *** million U.S. dollars on parks and rec.
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The Trust for Public Land. (August 1, 2025). Cities with the highest public spending on parks and recreation in the United States in 2024 (in millions U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 26, 2026, from /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/
The Trust for Public Land. "Cities with the highest public spending on parks and recreation in the United States in 2024 (in millions U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 1, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 26, 2026. /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/
The Trust for Public Land. (2025). Cities with the highest public spending on parks and recreation in the United States in 2024 (in millions U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 26, 2026. /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/
The Trust for Public Land. "Cities with The Highest Public Spending on Parks and Recreation in The United States in 2024 (in Millions U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Aug 2025, /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/
The Trust for Public Land, Cities with the highest public spending on parks and recreation in the United States in 2024 (in millions U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/ (last visited July 26, 2026)
Cities with the highest public spending on parks and recreation in the United States in 2024 (in millions U.S. dollars) [Graph], The Trust for Public Land, August 1, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/189798/total-spending-on-parks-and-recreation-by-us-cities/
