The parks offer activities for young and older with something for everyone from toddler swings to senior centers, basketball hoops, spraygrounds, trails and nature centers, special campfire programs, salamander walks, interpretative gardens, a diverse population of wildlife on the nature hikes and seasonal festivals as well as space for birthday party celebrations.

During the COVID shutdown the County’s parks served as one of the few places to connect and exercise and to strengthen our community’s mental and physical well being. 

Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board Chair says, “Our parks and recreation opportunities are a key contributor to quality of life in Arlington County.”

Arlington scored 79.1 points in the ParkScore index which was based on an average of five categories including access, investment, amenities, acreage and equity. The County scored near the top on investment and access, about average on percentage of the city’s overall area that is dedicated to parkland and below average on park size.

The Trust for Public Land added an equity category to the ParkScore in 2021. This category includes two types of metrics: that people of color live within a 10 minute walk of a park and that they have access to park space. Arlington scores highest on the first measure with 99 percent of people of color and low-income households living with a 10-minute walk of a park. However, residents of color have access to 36 percent less nearby park space than those living in white neighborhoods.

The County has been addressing this issue of disparities with the opening of John Robinson J. Town Square and the continuing renovation of Jennie Dean Park.