Joni Mitchell sang about “paving paradise” in the 1970s, but some U.S. cities like Portland, Oregon, are now making parks from parking lots and creating urban forests that cut pollution and save energy. Which are the nation’s 10 best for greenery?
For a top 10 list, released Tuesday, a federally funded survey looked at the 50 most populous U.S. cities to see which have the most parkland per capita, as well as which do the most to create green spaces and make them accessible to the public.
Portland, which has also turned a freeway into a riverfront park, made the cut, according to the survey by American Forests, a non-profit group that restores and protects forests. Also on the list, in alphabetical order: Austin, Charlotte, Denver, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York City, Sacramento, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
“As communities across the country manage more and more for the impact of climate change and other critical environmental and social challenges, their urban forests become even more important to the health of their city,” says Scott Steen, the head of American Forests, in announcing the findings.
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– Wendy Koch
