TOP 10
Best cities for recreation
Many people aim to stay active to reap numerous health benefits. Depending on location, this can be easier said than done. However, some cities offer a cornucopia of recreation opportunities — indoors and outdoors. According to WalletHub.com, having these options contribute to a city’s overall well-being and economy.
WalletHub notes, “Neighborhood parks are one of the most beneficial types of recreation a city can offer. Research has found that having a park within 500 to 600 feet of your property can have significant impact on its value. In addition, parks help people stay fit, saving them as much as $1,500 in healthcare costs per year, and they reduce the overall costs of air pollution by $3.8 billion per year.”
also indoor leisure activities like movie theaters, music venues and coffee shops. WalletHub states, it “compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 48 key metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities. In each city, we examined basic living costs, the quality of parks, the accessibility of entertainment and recreational facilities and the weather.” Orlando, Fla., took first place, ranking No. 1 in entertainment and recreational facilities, No. 37 in costs, No. 59 in quality of parks, and No. 28 in weather. Its total score of 62.96 put it just ahead of Las Vegas, Nev., which had a score of 61.80. The entire top 10 cities are listed below.
In its July list, “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation,” WalletHub not only calculated elements like parks but
1. Orlando, Fla.
62.96
2. Las Vegas, Nev.
61.80
3. San Diego, Calif.
57.31
4. Cincinnati, Ohio
56.81
5. Tampa, Fla.
56.51
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
56.04
7. Atlanta, Ga.
55.70
8. Albuquerque, N.M. 54.87 9. St. Louis, Mo.
54.17
10. New Orleans, La.
53.46
Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-recreation/5144 66 THE MUNICIPAL | OCTOBER 2021
