updated 11:32 a.m. ET March 16, 2008

Known for green spaces
The greatest number of parks per square mile:

Des Moines, IA
Lawrence, KS
Louisville, KY
Ann Arbor, MI
Santa Fe, NM
Newport, RI
Greenville, SC
Alexandria, VA
Seattle, WA

Known for walking commuters
The highest percentage of residents who get to work on foot:

Tempe, AZ
New Haven, CT
Bloomington, IN
Cambridge, MA
Biloxi, MS
Portsmouth, NH
Cincinnati, OH
Stillwater, OK
Vermillion, SD
Burlington, VT
Laramie, WY

Known for safe streets
The fewest number of crimes, based on population:

Bozeman, MT
Grand Forks, ND
Fremont, NE
St. George, UT
Appleton, WI

Known for fitness walking
The greatest percentage of people who hit the pavement for exercise:

Fairbanks, AK
Little Rock, AR
Boise, ID
Waterville, ME
Philadelphia, PA
Morgantown, WV

Known for desirable destinations
The highest number of stores, restaurants, and theaters within walking distance of the town's center:

San Francisco, CA
Atlanta, GA
Honolulu, HI
Chicago, IL
Baton Rouge, LA
St. Paul, MN
Reno, NV
New York, NY
Memphis, TN
Austin, TX

Expert faves
Top picks from professionals working to make communities more walkable:

Birmingham, AL
Denver, CO
Wilmington, DE
St. Petersburg, FL
Silver Spring, MD
Kansas City, MO
Charlotte, NC
Trenton, NJ
Portland, OR

How's your city rate? Go to prevention.com/bestcities to see all 500 city ratings and a list of criteria and experts.

Source: Annual survey with the American Podiatric Medical Association

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