James Ruse Water Playground

On a hot Parramatta summer day, this is genuinely one of the better spots to take the little ones — the water feature keeps kids aged 2 to 10 busy for hours without complaint. Shade trees mean you’re not just standing in full sun watching on, which makes a real difference. There’s a basketball court and soccer field nearby too, so older siblings or parents can actually do something while the young ones splash around. Harris St locals know it well, and for good reason.