Tennis

Plan ahead to have fun playing tennis in Central Park!


Location: MAP | Central Park Tennis Center, mid-park at 93rd Street near West Drive
Phone: (212) 280-0205
Hours: 6:30am till dusk. Tennis season runs from the first Sunday of April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

If you're looking to practice your tennis skills in a beautiful setting, look no further than the Central Park Tennis Center! Just be sure to plan ahead, as the tennis courts at Central Park are very popular and for good reason.

Before heading to the Central Park tennis courts, make sure to read these court-specific rules & regulations. You must follow the permit rules, wear smooth-sole tennis shoes, and use a maximum of six tennis balls on each court.

Tennis Permits

A permit is needed to use an outdoor court during tennis season, which runs from the first Sunday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Season Permits: Full-season permits are $100 for adults ages 18 to 61. Adults with a valid IDNYC card can receive 10% off their season permit fee. Discounts are available for seniors ($20) and juniors ($10).

You can purchase a season permit here, and starting March 11, 2024, you can also purchase or renew your tennis permit in person on weekdays at the Arsenal.

Single-Play Permit: Single-play permits are $15. A single-play permit allows you to play at any tennis court in any borough for 1 hour. Please note that if you would like to play at Central Park and wish to make advanced reservations online, you must be a season permit holder to do so.

You can purchase a single-play permit online, in person, or by mail.

  • Online: Create an account online at nycgovparks.org . You will need a photo of yourself (similar to passport photo) and a photo id to create the account. Same day permits are not available online; see "in person" instructions.
  • In person: Visit the Central Park Tennis Center, The Arsenal, or download the locations of multiple Tennis Permit Offices in NYC. In-person applicants receive their permits shortly after their applications are reviewed and/or photos are taken (same day). Cash only.
  • By mail: Download a form and mail to: The Arsenal, Central Park, New York, NY 10065 attn: NYC Parks Dept. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery via mail.

You must have your permit with you in order to play tennis. Once purchased, tennis permits cannot be refunded or transferred.

Reservations and Walk-On Play

Once you have a permit you can reserve a court online. However, please note that advanced reservations for Central Park courts specifically can only be made by season permit holders.

Walk-on play is available when courts are not in use. All courts are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Single play permits are sold in-person at the Central Park Tennis Center, where only cash is accepted.

No Show List: If there are no courts available, you can sign up on the No Show list, which is called 10 minutes to the hour for courts that have opened up due to no shows.

Repeat List: If you have just played for an hour and would like to continue playing, you can sign up on the Repeat List, which is called after all the players on the No Show list have been assigned court time.

Tennis Rules & Regulations

Make sure you’ve read all of the Central Park-specific rules and regulations before heading to a court to play. If you break the rules, your permit will be cancelled.

Some examples: No more than six balls permitted on the court, only smooth sole tennis shoes permitted (no running shoes allowed), minimum two people required to play, maximum four people allowed on the court, and no tennis lessons permitted by outside pros.

Weather Conditions and Cancellations

For weather conditions call (212) 280-0205. Rain checks will be issued for reserved courts if the courts are closed due to inclement weather.

Locker Rentals

You can rent a locker for $20 for the season. Click here to rent a locker.

Tennis Lessons, Group Programs and Summer Camps

Private and semi-private tennis lessons are available for all ages and levels (no permit necessary).

There are also weekend camps and clinics offered just for adults, plus after school and summer camp programs for kids.

Call (212) 316-0800 for more details or visit www.centralparktenniscenter.com.