St. Anns Ave.

New York, NY 10451 Visit Website

St. Mary's Park is the largest park in the South Bronx, and one of the borough's six original parks. The parkland was once part of the estate of Jonas Bronck, the settler who the Bronx was named after. Fans of the park have late-1800's journalist John Mullaly to thankMullaly created the New York Park Association in 1881 which lead to the creation of St. Mary's. As per the Parks Department website, "His efforts culminated in the 1884 New Parks Act and the city’s 1888-90 purchase of lands for Van Cortlandt, Claremont, Crotona, Bronx, St. Mary’s, and Pelham Bay Parks and the Moshulu, Pelham and Crotona Parkways." The park was named for a nearby church that was demolished in 1959. Visitors to the park these days can enjoy grilling, biking, ball games, and other activities hosted by the park's recreation center.