NOLA Ranks #5 U.S. City for Green Space Access
New Orleans ranks as the fifth best city for green space access nation-wide in a study conducted by Artificial Grass Pros, where data was analyzed on available parkland space per resident.
The research looked into 100 of the most populated cities in the U.S. to reveal which city has the best access to green spaces for residents.
The study shows that New Orleans has the fifth best parkland-to-population ratio, with 24,737 acres of parkland total, resulting in 637 acres of green space per 10,000 residents. Out of the country's 100 most populated cities, this ratio is 46% above the average acreage per 10,000 residents, with 23% of New Orleans consisting of parkland.
"As we tend to think of the most highly populated cities as being densely packed, urban, and lacking in open areas, it's interesting to see those with the best potential for access to calm space and nature, alongside the bustle of city life," said CEO of Artificial Grass Pros, Bennett Barrier. "The relatively newly acknowledged impact of the outdoors on both our physical and mental well-being suggests that these spaces can provide enormous benefits to city dwellers, so it's certainly interesting to see where these benefits can be reaped the most in America's most populous place."
The population numbers used in the study are based on the 2022 U.S. Census Block Group estimates provided by Esri. Land areas within the cities are based on GIS data, with unpopulated land areas such as rail yards, airports, and bodies of water removed.
According to the study, New Orleans ranks above Honolulu, North Las Vegas, Virginia Beach, El Paso, and Santa Clarita, but below Jacksonville, Fremont, Scottsdale, and the #1 city Chesapeake.
