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After tying for first place last year, Minneapolis narrowly beat out St. Paul for the title of America's best park system, according to 


The conservation group released its 2016 ParkScore Index Thursday, which analyzes parks in the 100 largest cities in the United States. 

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• Park access, which measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park (approximately ½-mile)


• Park size, which is based on a city's median park size and the percentage of total city area dedicated to parks


• Facilities and investment, which combines park spending per resident with the availability of four popular park amenities: basketball hoops, off-leash dog parks, playgrounds and recreation and senior centers.


Minneapolis outscored St. Paul in park size, but the capitol city rated slightly higher on park access. It appears basketball hoops and dog parks helped push Minneapolis over its cross-town rival — the city of lakes outscored St. Paul on dog parks per 100,000 residents and apparently 


Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C. (81 points); Arlington, Va. (79); and San Francisco (77.5).

Environmental News

Nancy Yang

Author

The two cities tied last year for the top spot. Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C.; Arlington, Va.; and San Francisco

We're No. 1! And 2: Mpls. edges out St. Paul for nation's best park system

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