The parks system, explained
What are we counting?
The Atlas contains 316 mapped property records from the City’s parks inventory. A property record is not necessarily a separate public park, a legal parcel, or a place open for recreation.
The inventory includes parks, natural areas, gardens, buildings, corridors, and operational land. Classifications are Atlas interpretations unless a reviewed correction says otherwise. These totals should not be substituted for PP&R’s official developed-park count.
By property type
- Classification uncertain
- 14
- Developed park
- 152
- Natural area
- 71
- Community garden
- 34
- Public garden
- 6
- Facility site
- 10
- Golf course or raceway
- 6
- Trail corridor
- 8
- Plaza or memorial
- 10
- Undeveloped property
- 0
- Maintenance yard
- 5
By public-entry evidence
- Public entry documented
- 159
- Limited access / participation
- 49
- Operational or restricted
- 6
- Public entry unverified
- 102
208 records have evidence of public entry or limited participation. This does not mean every amenity is publicly available, that a location is open right now, or that it is wheelchair accessible.
Different questions need different counts
- Visitor recommendations require public-entry and published amenity evidence.
- Management and repair inventories retain operational properties because those assets still need care.
- Partnership percentages describe mapped relationships across the stated property inventory, not unmet public need.
- Investment screens keep unknown access, acreage, and classification separate from plausible candidates.
A community garden may require plot registration. A recreation building may require admission. An undeveloped site may or may not allow entry. Nearby provision matters more than expecting every property to offer every activity.