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WORCESTER — Having grown up in the area, it comes as no surprise to Julieane K. Frost that Worcester is listed among the top 10 Best Cities for Families for 2014 by Parenting.com.

“Worcester has always had a reputation as a really great city to raise a family. It’s always been known for that by people who live in the area,” said Mrs. Frost, manager of marketing, communication and design for the Worcester Art Museum. “It’s big enough so we have wonderful cultural attractions that families can enjoy. We have wonderful parks and green areas. Of course, we have the colleges, so we have so many of the benefits of a bigger city. And, yet, it’s small enough so that it is not overwhelming. People can know their neighbors. Neighborhoods feel connected. It’s always been a safe place to raise a family.”

The city is ranked seventh on the list by the online magazine. The only other New England city is Boston, which captured the No. 1 spot. The other cities are Colorado Springs, Nashville, Allentown, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Richmond, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; Virginia Beach, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Selections were based on U.S. Census data, FBI crime statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, and ratings from GreatSchools.com, according to the magazine’s website.

“In Worcester, it’s best to get outside and get involved,” begins writer Sarah Sager’s description of Worcester’s opportunities for families. Some of the special places and events listed include the EcoTarium, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester Historical Museum, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, the annual Grecian festival, the Brew Woo Craft Beer Festival and several parks and trails.

Some families at Elm Park Friday, enjoying the last day of spring, said they understand why Worcester made the list.

William Asante-Addo of Worcester, who was coaxing his 3-year-old son Kwame down a slide, said since he works the overnight shift at his job, he spends a lot of time during the day at parks or at the EcoTarium with his son and 8-year-old daughter, Yaa.

“For me, it’s great. There’s always something here for my kids to do,” he said.

James Hardy of Nashua, New Hamsphire, was among a number of families from outside of Worcester, as far away as Virginia Beach, who were at Elm Park with their children Friday. Mr. Hardy said he comes to Worcester weekly to spend time with his four children, ages five months to 11.

“It’s awesome here. There’s lots of things to do with the family,” he said as he pushed his older children in swings. “We do the park, go walking and go skating.”

Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the city has invested a tremendous amount of money in its parks and other areas over the years.

“It’s paid off. Worcester is a wonderful place to live and bring up a family,” he said. “One thing that’s interesting when you talk to people who have recently moved to the city, they find the city to be such a bargain from a pricing standpoint, quality-of-life issues, entertainment, arts and restaurants. They find it to be a great place to live.”

Linda A. Cavaioli, executive director of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts, agrees that Worcester is a great place to raise a family and the city is rich in resources. But, she said, more needs to be done to make sure they’re accessible to all families.

“One of the barriers to youth and families is transportation. Families can’t always get there,” she explained. “If there are fees, we need to make sure there are opportunities for families that can’t afford full fees to have discounts or scholarships. Many times organizations and institutions try to do that, but it just has to be deliberate.”

Contact Elaine Thompson at ethompson@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @EThompsonTG

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