Wanganui locals like our parks and the green spaces are rated on top of 12 councils surveyed.
"Fantastic isn't it," says Wanganui District councillor Ray Stevens and Infrastructure and Property Committee chairman.
"Anyone can go and do a job, but when you do it and to this level of excellence, it is worth celebrating," Mr Stevens said, paying tribute to the contractors who were on call 24/7.
Mr Stevens also praised the officers who worked with contractors, "getting things right and maintaining a higher standard than the national average".
The independent survey measured public satisfaction with parks and reserves across participating councils in New Zealand.
Of the 12 council areas surveyed, Wanganui had the highest overall percentage satisfaction across all park categories with an average score of 96.8 per cent.
The annual Parkcheck survey measured 180 respondents across 20 different Wanganui park types including destination parks such as Virginia Lake and Kowhai Park.
Neighbourhood parks included Hutton Park (Fox Rd) and Carlton Avenue Park, sports grounds and other areas such as Otamatea on Virginia Rd, Westmere Lake and the Mowhanau Beach reserve.
There was increased satisfaction in all categories of parks from 2011 with 100 per cent satisfaction for destination parks and sports grounds. Neighbourhood parks satisfaction was 86.7 per cent. A lack of toilets lowered satisfaction.
The survey also showed visitor frequency, and at neighbourhood parks - Carlton Avenue, Lorenzdale (Aramoho) and Williams Domain (opposite Wanganui East School) - 50 per cent or more respondents visited the park about once a week or more frequently. At Otamatea 100 per cent of those who responded to the survey said they visited at least once a week, and 60 per cent said they visited every day.
Mr Stevens said Wanganui had a large number of parks and reserves which provided a huge range of opportunities for the community for sport, health and fitness, family time, picnics, dog walking and socialising.
"This survey shows the hard work our staff and contractors put into this area is having a positive effect and that our residents and visitors do notice and appreciate the provision of these essential green spaces."
The findings will be presented to the Infrastructure and Property Committee on May 29.