Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
July 14, 2025
WalletHub Ranks 2025's Best & Worst U.S. Cities for Recreation
TLDR
- Las Vegas leads as the best city for recreation, offering residents a competitive edge in health and savings with top playground access and facilities.
- WalletHub's methodical analysis of 100 U.S. cities ranks them on 47 indicators, including park accessibility and weather, to determine recreation-friendliness.
- National Parks and Recreation Month highlights how accessible recreational activities can improve community health and reduce healthcare costs by up to $1,900 annually.
- Discover how San Francisco's bike rental facilities outnumber Fresno's by 39.5 times, showcasing vast differences in city recreation amenities.
Impact - Why it Matters
This report is crucial for individuals and families considering relocation or those interested in the quality of recreational facilities in their current city. It highlights the direct correlation between accessible recreation and health care savings, emphasizing the importance of city planning and investment in public spaces for community well-being and economic benefits.
Summary
In celebration of National Parks and Recreation Month, WalletHub, a leading personal-finance website, has unveiled its comprehensive report on 2025’s Best & Worst Cities for Recreation. This insightful study meticulously evaluates the 100 largest U.S. cities across 47 critical indicators of recreation-friendliness, including the availability of entertainment and recreational facilities, park quality, and weather conditions. The report not only highlights the top and bottom cities for recreation but also sheds light on the significant health care cost savings associated with maintaining a healthy weight through exercise, estimated at nearly $1,900 annually.
Las Vegas, NV, leads the pack as the best city for recreation, boasting an impressive number of playgrounds per capita, while Wichita, KS, finds itself at the opposite end of the spectrum. The study also reveals striking disparities among cities, such as San Francisco and Boston's superior walkable park access compared to Indianapolis, and Buffalo, NY's highest per capita spending on parks, dwarfing Chula Vista, CA's expenditures. These findings underscore the varying degrees of commitment and resources allocated to recreational facilities across the nation, impacting residents' quality of life and health outcomes.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, WalletHub Ranks 2025's Best & Worst U.S. Cities for Recreation
