St. James Park

If you’re in the Bronx and need a park that actually does a lot of things well, St. James delivers. The water spouts are the real draw for younger kids on a hot day — toddlers and the under-12 crowd both go nuts for them. You’ve got a solid basketball court and soccer field for older kids, plus enough open grass to spread out and not feel crammed in. Shade trees and covered seating mean the adults don’t have to bake while they watch. It’s a proper neighborhood park — nothing fancy, but it pulls its weight.