Updated October 2026. Tennis City NYC
An NYC Parks single-play permit costs $15 per player and covers one hour on any city court in any borough, or two hours if you’re playing doubles. You can’t buy one online for use the same day, so if you’re playing today, buy it in person. NYC Parks requires a permit on its outdoor courts from the first Saturday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
What a court really costs
Every player needs a permit, and a reservation is an extra charge per court. These totals are calculated from the published $15 fees.
| Session | Permits | Reservation | Total | Per player |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singles, 1 hour, walk-on | 2 × $15 | None | $30 | $15 |
| Singles, 1 hour, reserved | 2 × $15 | $15 | $45 | $22.50 |
| Doubles, 2 hours, walk-on | 4 × $15 | None | $60 | $15 |
| Doubles, 2 hours, reserved | 4 × $15 | 2 × $15 | $90 | $22.50 |
Where to buy one
- At a tennis center, for today: Central Park, Prospect Park, Alley Pond and Randall’s Island Tennis Centers sell same-day single plays in person. Central Park accepts cash only.
- At a permit office, weekdays 9am to 4pm:
- Manhattan: The Arsenal, 830 5th Ave, Room 1, (212) 360-8131
- Brooklyn: Litchfield Villa, 95 Prospect Park West, (718) 965-8919
- Queens: Passerelle Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, (718) 393-7276
- Bronx: 1 Bronx River Parkway, (718) 430-1840
- Staten Island: 1150 Clove Rd, (718) 390-8010
- At Paragon Sports: 867 Broadway at 18th St, (212) 255-8889, open daily 11am to 7pm.
- Online, in advance: use the single-play application, or add a permit when you reserve a court. NYC Parks says to allow up to three weeks for permits sent by mail, so check how yours will be delivered before relying on it for a trip.
Bring photo ID and proof of age if you’re buying in person.
Where you can reserve
A limited number of courts at these sites can be reserved online. The remaining courts are for walk-ons with a permit.
| Site | Reservation courts | Walk-on courts |
|---|---|---|
| Central Park, Manhattan | 6 | 26 |
| Riverside Park at 96th St, Manhattan | 2 | 10 |
| Riverside Park at 119th St, Manhattan | 2 | 10 |
| Sportime at Randall’s Island, Manhattan | 4 | 8 |
| Sutton East at Queensboro Oval, Manhattan | 2 | 6 |
| McCarren Park, Brooklyn | 2 | 7 |
| Commonpoint at Alley Pond Park, Queens | 4 | 15 |
| Mill Pond Park, Bronx | 3 | 8 |
You can’t reserve for the same day. You can book up to seven days ahead, or 1 to 30 days ahead at Central Park. Reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable, but you can change one once, at least a day before play.
Single play or season permit?
The adult season permit costs $100 for ages 18 to 61, or $90 with IDNYC, so it pays off on your seventh session, or your sixth with IDNYC. It costs $20 if you’re 62 or older and $10 if you’re under 18. For those players, the season permit pays off by the second session. Visitors and occasional players should stick with single plays.
FAQ
Does my hitting partner need a permit too?
Yes. NYC Parks requires every player on the court to have a season or single-play permit.
Can non-residents buy one?
The permit page doesn’t list a residency requirement for single-play permits, and they are sold over the counter at the tennis centers above.
Is there a way to avoid the fee?
Yes. Hudson River Park has three free courts, first come, first served, with no permit needed for regular play.
Related guides
- Playing Tennis While Visiting New York City
- New to New York? A Tennis Starter Guide
- Tennis Near Midtown Manhattan and Times Square
- Winter and Indoor Tennis in New York City
Looking for someone to play with? Join the Tennis City NYC Slack group and post a day, time and court at your NTRP level. It is free now; new members pay $5 a year after the 200th member.