The most stunning city parks in America - While city life offers an abundance of activities and opportunities, the noise and crowds can become a bit overwhelming. That's where parks and recreational areas come in. Flower-dotted paths shaded by towering trees can be a perfect refuge for urbanites to escape from the stresses of everyday life. Money Talks News recently ranked the best parks in the United States based on financial investment, total park acres, and percent of the city land devoted to parks and recreation. Check out the following gallery to see the top 20 American cities for park lovers.

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20. Denver, CO - ParkScore: 64.0 / 
Park acreage: 6,222 acres / 
Spending per resident: $114.79 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 8%

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19. St. Louis, MO - ParkScore: 65.0 / 
Park acreage: 3,721 acres / 
Spending per resident: $271.14 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 10%

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18. Plano, TX - ParkScore: 65.0 / 
Park acreage: 4,275 acres / 
Spending per resident: $147.23 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 9%

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17. Albuquerque, NM - ParkScore: 65.0 / 
Park acreage: 27,438 acres / 
Spending per resident: $58.03 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 24%

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16. St. Petersburg, FL - ParkScore: 66.0 / 
Park acreage: 6,159 acres / 
Spending per resident: $132.95 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 16%

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15. Aurora, CO - ParkScore: 68.5 / 
Park acreage: 10,504 acres / 
Spending per resident: $139.46 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 11%

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14. San Diego, CA - ParkScore: 69.0 / 
Park acreage: 47,817 acres / 
Spending per resident: $119.73 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 23%

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13. Boston, MA - ParkScore: 70.0 / 
Park acreage: 5,093 acres / 
Spending per resident: $111.59 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 17%

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12. Seattle, WA - ParkScore: 71.0 / 
Park acreage: 6,591 acres / 
Spending per resident: $279.30 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 12%

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11. Chicago, IL - ParkScore: 71.0 / 
Park acreage: 13,504 acres / 
Spending per resident: $172.86 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 10%

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10. Cincinnati, OH - ParkScore: 71.5 / 
Park acreage: 6,891 acres / 
Spending per resident: $190.79 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 14%

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10. Cincinnati, OH - This city known for its 19th Century architecture has one of the largest plant conservatories in the US, according to Cincinnati Parks. The Krohn Conservatory offers excellent views of the city and its forests span 1,459 acres.

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9. Madison, WI - ParkScore: 73.5 / 
Park acreage: 6,372 acres / 
Spending per resident: $126.30 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 13%

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9. Madison, WI - This city in the Midwest is home to a grand total of 249 parks. Madison offers free guided bird and nature outings at eight different park locations every month, according to the City of Madison.

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8. New York City - ParkScore: 74.0 / 
Park acreage: 39,859 acres / 
Spending per resident: $178.63 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 21%

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8. New York City - Other than being a cultural hub, The Big Apple has roughly 1,700 parks for urbanites to escape the busy city streets and get lost in nature. Central Park and Coney Island Beach cannot be missed on a trip to NYC.

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7. Irvine, CA - ParkScore: 74 / 
Park acreage: 9,427 acres / 
Spending per resident: $251.60 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 22%

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7. Irvine, CA - This So-Cal city is home to the Orange County Great Park, which alone covers 1,300 acres. Other than offering a variety of vegetation, this park is also a hub for athletes and artists alike.

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6. Arlington, VA - ParkScore: 76.5 / 
Park acreage: 1,787 acres / 
Spending per resident: $229.93 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 11%

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6. Arlington, VA - Other than sprouting vibrant tulips and cherry blossom trees in the spring, the parks in Arlington are the perfect family-friendly escape from city life. Some local favorites are Shirlington Park and Rocky Run Park.

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5. Portland, OR - ParkScore: 77.5 / 
Park acreage: 14,504 acres / 
Spending per resident: $164.56 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 18%

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5. Portland, OR - This hipster hub has some of the most gorgeous greenery you can find in the USA. Portland's Forest Park is the largest urban park in the country. Washington Park is where you can find the International Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden.

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4. Washington, D.C. - ParkScore: 79 / 
Park acreage: 8,525 acres / 
Spending per resident: $269.98 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 22%

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4. Washington, D.C. - Other than boasting an impressive number of monuments and museums, our nation's capital also has a plethora of pristine parks. One of North America's largest collection of bonsai trees can be found in the U.S. National Arboretum.

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3. San Francisco, CA - ParkScore: 80.0 / 
Park acreage: 5,888 acres / 
Spending per resident: $235.08 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 20%

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3. San Francisco, CA - As far as natural beauty and popularity go, the Golden Gate Park takes the cake. From the Japanese Tea Garden to the Conservatory of Flowers, this park is a pure oasis. Not to mention, Hippie Hill is a great spot for people watching.

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2. St. Paul, MN - ParkScore: 82.5 / 
Park acreage: 4,937 acres / 
Spending per resident: $202.12 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 15%

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2. St. Paul, MN - With its vibrant collection of flowers and birch trees, Mears Park is a local favorite. The Como Regional Park is nationally renowned for its zoo, lush gardens, and vast array of recreational activities.

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1. Minneapolis, MN - ParkScore: 87.5 / 
Park acreage: 5,064 acres / 
Spending per resident: $232.59 / 
Amount of city area used for parks: 15%

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1. Minneapolis, MN - The Trust for Public Lands has ranked Minneapolis number one for parks since 2013 for its amenities, accessibility, and city investment. 97% of city residents are within a 10 minute walk of a park. Lake Harriet Bandshell Park remains one of the most popular natural spaces for visitors.

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