Crap Towns / Sunderland / Parks
How many parks and playgrounds has Sunderland got?
OS maps 33 public parks and gardens in Sunderland (April 2026): 2.0 per 10,000 people, 20% lower than the typical town's 2.5. There are 38 play spaces, 2.3 per 10,000 people, 62% lower than the typical town's 6.0. 30.8% of its people live more than 400 metres from a park or play space, as the crow flies, 2.0 times the typical town's 15.5%.
| Measure | Here | Typical town |
|---|---|---|
| Public parks and gardens per 10,000 people | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Play spaces per 10,000 people | 2.3 | 6.0 |
| Square metres of public park per person | 6.2 | 4.5 |
| People more than 400 metres from a park or play space | 30.8% | 15.5% |
| Town | Distance | % more than 400 metres from a park |
|---|---|---|
| Whitburn | 6.0 km | 85.5 |
| Sunderland | – | 30.8 |
| Fence Houses | 8.9 km | 27.2 |
| South Shields | 8.3 km | 21.3 |
| Seaham | 8.4 km | 15.0 |
| Boldon Colliery | 6.2 km | 13.5 |
| Washington | 6.8 km | 10.0 |
| Jarrow | 8.6 km | 9.9 |
| East Boldon and West Boldon | 5.1 km | 8.3 |
| Houghton-le-Spring | 8.3 km | 7.4 |
| Shiney Row and Penshaw | 6.4 km | 3.9 |
| The typical town | – | 15.5 |