The Central Park Tennis Center offers the largest collection of public courts in the city, with twenty-six clay and four asphalt courts. The Tennis Center itself also offers a convenient restroom stop and a small snack bar, and, of course a great place to watch tennis.

It was in the 1870’s that tennis first became a national craze in America, following a similar surge in popularity in Great Britain. There was, in fact, a period during the 1880’s during which it was not unusual to see a tennis court marked out in the grass virtually anywhere in the park where it would fit (makes you sort of thankful that there has never been a corresponding mania for horseshoes.)

John B. Moore The Tennis Center in Central Park.

Tennis was first permitted on the present site 1884 and was paved over in 1914 and in 1930 a tennis house was built. Since its origins a mostly upper-class it has evolved into a much more demographically diverse pastime, which is amply evidenced by the array of patrons using the courts on any given afternoon.

Location: Between West 94th and West 96th Streets, near the West Drive

Details:
* April – November 6:30 am to dusk, weather permitting
* Seasonal
* permits: 212-360-8133
* Single-play permits and lessons: 212-316-0800
* Court reservations and conditions: 212-280-0205
* Public Restrooms, Pro Shop, and Snack Bar