In 10 minutes, you can load a TV episode on Netflix, check your mail waiting for BART or make an avocado toast. Now, you can add to that list: take a walk to the park.

San Francisco is the first city in the nation to have every resident live within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space. The percentage is calculated by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit that facilitates the creation of parks and analyzes park systems for the 100 largest cities nationwide.

On Tuesday, city officials hiked to the newly renovated Hilltop Park in the Bayview from a nearby day care center. It was a 10-minute walk. There, as a cold wind whipped through the trees, Mayor Ed Lee announced the achievement to applause.

“In San Francisco, we want everyone to enjoy the prosperity of this city, which is why it is particularly meaningful that we have a local parks system that is accessible and enjoyable for all of our residents,” Lee said Monday. “We are proud to be the first city in the nation to have at least one open space within a 10-minute walk of every resident, no matter where they live.”

Back to Gallery SF 1st city in nation with a park 10-minute walk from... 6 1 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle 2 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle 3 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle 4 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle 5 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle 6 of 6 Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle











But don’t expect to see a small army of city workers and volunteers with stopwatches in hand counting their steps. The data were gathered using a complex geographic mapping program. The average person can walk a half-mile in about 10 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which counts even your two legs as a mode of transportation. The distance has to include sidewalks — crossing highways or skirting canals doesn’t count.

“We developed this as the gold standard,” said Adrian Benepe, the Trust for Public Land’s director of city park development. “A 10-minute walk to a park is an important indicator of the livability of a city. Having parks around is a primary indicator of that comfort and ease. One of the advantages in cities like San Francisco is that you have lots of small parks, which makes it easy to reach 100 percent.”

San Francisco has always scored high on the nonprofit’s list, Benepe said, and they weren’t surprised it hit 100 percent this year. Criteria for the nonprofit’s annual ParkScore analysis also includes the number of individual parks, overall spending and facilities upkeep. Other cities were close behind San Francisco to reach the 100 percent mark for walkability: New York City (not creating enough new parks), St. Paul and Minneapolis (both slower than San Francisco).

Recently, San Francisco carved a number of new open spaces out of its dense urban core, including the Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, Geneva Community Garden, Noe Valley Town Square, SoMa West Dog and Skate Park and 900 Innes Avenue Park. Those additions edged it to the top. The city has spent $355 million in bond and general fund money over the past four years to purchase land, renovate dilapidated parks and improve open spaces. In 2012, voters passed the $195 million Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond to fix up neighborhood parks.

Those measures made the difference in reaching the No. 1 spot, said Recreation and Park Department Director Phil Ginsburg.

“It speaks volumes about this city’s commitment to open space,” he said. “It is the reflection of literally a century and a half of decisions regarding parks and open space. In the last 10 years or so, it’s a reflection of the city’s commitment to making sure that we have the most accessible parks system in the country.”

San Francisco officials are already planning the next wave of renovations, including the Buchanan Street Mall, Herz Playground, Walter Haas dog park, and hillside and turf erosion. Many of the city’s older parks have also had issues with irrigation and flooding — particularly after the historic rainfall this winter — and repairing those issues are also on the list.

“These parks are not just nice amenities,” Benepe said. “They are very important for public and environmental health. Parks make for better and strong communities.”

Benepe laughed, “Now the rest of the country has to catch up.”

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn