Irvine Parks Rank 4th In Nation For Access And Equity. Check Out These Spots

For the second year in a row, Irvine has ranked fourth nationally for its park systems out of 100 of the nation’s most populous cities.

In the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, announced Wednesday, Irvine came ahead of other Southern California cities: Santa Clarita placed 49th, Long Beach 61st, Anaheim and Riverside tied for 76th, Los Angeles dropped eight places to 88th and Santa Ana came in at 93.

The criteria

The rankings are determined by how many residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park, amenities, investment toward parks, as well as how much of the city's land is allocated to park space. Another key factor in rankings is park equity, which compares park space and access in predominantly white neighborhoods with the same in neighborhoods populated by communities of color. The same comparison is made for income levels.

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In Irvine, more than 90% of residents live within 10 minutes of a park and the city spends over $600 per resident on its parks. Irvine spends the most out of the 100 cities polled on its park facilities per resident.

“Irvine is known for its master-planned community that emphasizes an importance on the health and wellness of our community," said Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan. "Providing equitable and accessible parks and open spaces are a priority for us."

Here's a roundup of some of Irvine’s best parks:

Great for young kids: Turtle Rock Community Park

Children can listen for the telltale “rat-a-tat-tat” of woodpeckers or keep an eye out for lizards on the paved trail to the Turtle Rock Nature Center located on the park grounds. The center features a native plant garden and visitors are encouraged to take self-guided walks on the trails.

For a walk back in time: Bommer Canyon Preserve 

In 2023, Bommer Canyon Community Park reopened to the public, rebranded as the Bommer Canyon Preserve. Shaded by sycamore trees that are over a century old, the Cattle Camp picnic area still maintains its historical integrity after the city undertook rehabilitation works to restore the campsite that first opened in 1967.

Great for workouts: Hicks Canyon Community Park

Two baseball fields, two soccer fields and over 16 acres in size: Hicks Canyon offers plenty of nooks and crannies if you want to take part in a group sport, engage in some solo strength training or just want a light walk to kickstart your day.

To beat the summer heat: Heritage Community Park

Splash pads are a cost effective, fun way to kick off summer vacations and the Heritage Community Park one is located close to a sand pit, ocean-themed climbing structures and a swing set. The park also includes a lake with plenty of ducks splashing around.

Outdoor access and quality of life

Jenna Cobb is a program manager at Community Nature Connection, a nonprofit that works to create equal access to green spaces in Los Angeles County. Cobb said outdoor access can positively improve the quality of life for residents.

“People feel safe in the outdoors, that time can be an antidote for stress. It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels,” she said. “Time outdoors can reduce feelings of isolation and promote calm and lift mood.”

Cobb works with middle and high school students who she said have told her that they feel “safe, peaceful, happy, and at one with nature after they spend time at our local parks.”