Van Cortlandt's parade ground is the biggest flat green in the Bronx — the field where generations of cross-country runners started their races — and a community games day is exactly what it was built for. Expect team field events, kids' races, grills going along the edge of the lawn, and the kind of good-natured trash talk that only happens between families who have known each other for decades. If you want a full outdoor day in the Bronx without paying for anything, this is the shape of it.
What to expect
Teams and families set up along the parade ground for a day of games, races and relay-style field events, with grilling and music running alongside. The park's picnic areas, playgrounds and trails are all in easy reach if you want to peel off. Expect a long, unhurried day rather than a fixed schedule.
Good to know
- Take the 1 to 242nd St–Van Cortlandt Park, right at the parade ground
- Free to attend as a park visitor; the games themselves are a community gathering
- Bring a chair, sunscreen and water — the parade ground is wide open with little shade
- Good for families; playgrounds and the lake trail are nearby
- Restrooms are near the park's Broadway entrance
- Van Cortlandt's trails and the Croton Aqueduct path make a good add-on
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Common questions
Where in Van Cortlandt Park does it happen?
On the open parade ground and picnic areas at the park's Broadway side in the northwest Bronx.
Is it free?
The park is free and public; the games are a community gathering rather than a ticketed event.
How do I get there?
The 1 train to 242nd Street–Van Cortlandt Park drops you at the park entrance.
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