Mid-Island

In the past we've touted Staten Island as a great place to find a birthday party bargain. But there are so many fun Staten Island party spots, we thought it was time to do a new roundup.

Not only do Staten Island parties tend to be some of the least expensive options in NYC, they often offer the kind of fun you usually only find in the 'burbs, like bumper cars, go-carts and massive video game arcades. So in addition to our original list of Staten Island party places, here are 10 more spots where you can throw a memorable birthday bash. You can find even more options in our Party Guide.

Schmul Park isn't new; it's a revamp of a drab play spot that was sorely in need of a makeover. And while the overhauled park may not qualify as a Destination Playground, the vibrant and colorful romping spot is certainly a welcome addition to the neighborhood—even in the cool fall weather it's packed every day after school!

In addition to the playground, the new $6.5. Schmul Park features a pair of handball courts, basketball courts, a softball field, an open lawn for picnicking or lounging, lovely native plantings, a comfort station with bathroom (and changing tables, yay!), and a pathway that will serve as the entrance to Staten Island's 2,200-acre Freshkills Park, which is currently being developed.

At 2,800 acres, Staten Island’s Greenbelt is one of the largest public parks in New York City. Like Central Park in Manhattan, Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the Bronx's Van Cortlandt Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, the Greenbelt is considered one of NYC's flagship green spaces. However, it's actually several parks linked together in Staten Island’s interior, including the popular Willowbrook Park, home to the Carousel for All Children, the wild High Rock Park and Bloodroot Valley named for its large population of signature flowers.

The Greenbelt makes for a great staycation destination. It's jam-packed with attractions, including 30 miles of groomed hiking trails, a nature center, a recreation center, a public golf course, a merry-go-round, barbecue grills, a lake for fishing, a living history museum and playgrounds. It's also filled with a wide variety of plants, flowers and wildlife like Wood Ducks, Great Blue Herons, muskrats, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, frogs and turtles.

It's possible to see most of the Greenbelt's big attractions on foot in one day—my family and I didn't manage it but we met an intrepid father-son team who were doing just that! But it's more relaxing to choose one area to explore at your leisure. If you decide to do it all in one day, there are parking lots throughout the Greenbelt and various MTA buses circle the park. Here are our top 14 things to do in the Greenbelt with kids.