THE 2024 NYC PICKLEBALL GUIDE
Your guide to pickleball in New York City. Get the latest information on public courts, open play, and local pickleball communities. Most outdoor groups play on asphalt surfaces or handball courts. Volunteers bring portable nets, tape and paint down court lines, and often provide balls, so if you’re going to join a community long term, please find a way to contribute. Open play times are always subject to change, so check the groups before deciding to join any sessions. Indoor NYC recreation centers are subject to city and state health and safety mandates.
Skill rating: Some groups and open play times are limited to a minimum skill level. Please be considerate of these expectations and rate yourself as honestly and accurately as possible. If you are unsure about your rating, use this flow chart.
Manhattan PICKLEBALL
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in Manhattan
Hudson River Park Pickleball Courts (Opening in early November!)
Courts: 4 dedicated courts on tennis court surface with permanent nets and lights
Open Play: Manhattan’s first fully dedicated pickleball courts (second after Roosevelt Island). 4 brand new courts with permanent nets. There will be a paddle queue when all four courts are fully occupied. Join #games-hudsonriverpark to coordinate. More rules and announcements can be found here.
Riverside Park Pickleball Courts
Courts: 5 dedicated courts on asphalt with nets
Open Play: Similar to the North Meadow Handball Courts on 97th Street, players now are here nearly all day. Please read these guidelines on how they organize open play. Teamreach code: RiversidePark
Roosevelt Island
Courts: 2 dedicated courts on asphalt with nets (2024 SEASON OPEN AS OF APRIL 1ST)
Open Play: Hosted by Joyce Short on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9AM - 12 PM. Group beginner lessons from 9-10 AM, paddles supplied. Intermediate and Advanced play from 10AM to 12 PM. All other times are open play, first come first serve. Play 1 game to 11 if others are waiting and rotate 4 on, 4 off. Join our Slack Community channel #games_roosevelt_island.
James J Walker Park, Greenwich Village
Courts: 2 courts on asphalt, Portable nets needed (BYON)
Open Play: Organize play sessions in the TeamReach group code NYCPMJJW.
These recently created courts are the new home of the West Village Pickleball community that was displaced by the parks department after a long, drawn out struggle over the use of Seravalli Playground. If you want to use these courts, it is highly recommended to join the TeamReach group listed above and to share the space with the existing community. These courts are 2 blocks away from the courts at Houston and 6th.
Happy Warrior Playground, UWS
Courts: 1 court on asphalt, maybe room for more. Portable nets needed (BYON)
DeWitt Clinton Park, Hell’s Kitchen
Courts: 2 painted courts on asphalt, 1 taped court. Portable nets needed (BYON)
Open Play: Nothing scheduled, and no formally organized group. First come first serve. If you live nearby, form a group and get playing! TeamReach code: NYPBDW
Carl Schurz Park, Yorkville
Courts: 3 painted Courts right near the water. Portable nets needed (BYON)
Open Play: Open play throughout the day, feel free to show up and play. Team Reach code: UESPickleball
St. Catherine’s Park, Upper East Side WILL RETURN IN THE SUMMER 2024
Courts: 5 taped or chalked courts on the athletic field.
Open Play: Hosted by David Velasquez and the NYC Parks department on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays from 10AM - 1PM
William F. Passannante Ballfield (Houston & 6th), West Village (Updated October 2023)
Courts: 5 painted courts on asphalt, portable nets needed (BYON)
Open Play: Summer evenings are often permitted for other sport leagues, but for those who want to organize games in the morning and early afternoons, we have a channel in our slack called #games_houston. Click here to join the group. If you want to double-check the permit schedule, use this map. Sunday mornings are reserved for 3.5+ players.
St. Vartan Handball Courts, Murray Hill
Courts: 4 handball courts with painted lines, portable nets needed (BYON)
Another welcoming NYC pickleball community for beginner and intermediate players. This passionate and dedicated group is always out on the courts, and have formed a strong community bond. Play can range from 3.0-4.0, and they often have a challenge court when all four courts are occupied. Click here to join the slack group. Channel #st-vartan-park
Central Park North Meadow Handball Courts, Central Park West UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION, WILL REOPEN PARTIALLY SUMMER 2024
Courts: 3 handball courts with taped lines, portable nets needed (BYON)
All Level Open Play: Everyday, 9:00AM-Sundown, weather permitting.
Surrounded by beautiful Central Park, this is one of the most active and friendly groups in all of New York for players of all levels. The courts are cut marginally short to fit in the space, but we know we all play up at the kitchen line anyway…right? Look to Listra for any questions about the group. Designated beginner days and hours, Mon, Wed, Fri from 1-3pm TeamReach app code: West26
Guidelines: Please make sure you read these guidelines put together by the community before going!
East River Playground, East Harlem
Courts: 2 painted courts on asphalt, portable nets needed (BYON)
All Level Open Play: Typically 2PM-6PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but check the app for announced games
All levels welcome to this group in East Harlem! Join the #games_uptown channel in Slack.
Sol Lain Playground, Lower East Side
Courts: 3 painted courts on asphalt, portable nets needed (BYON). Serves as a playground on weekdays for PS 134 during the school year, so only open to the public on weekdays after 3:00 PM.
Pick Up Games: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_les
Lillian D. Wald Playground, Lower East Side
Courts: 4 painted courts on refinished asphalt, portable nets needed (BYON). The park is regularly permitted for other organized sports, check for permits here before going.
Pick Up Games: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_les.
Indoor Pickleball Courts in Manhattan
NYC Recreation centers are now hosting indoor pickleball sessions. Courts are typically taped on basketball gym floor surfaces. Balls and nets are provided for these sessions. Please check weekly schedules linked below. Annual Rec Center membership is required.
Brooklyn PICKLEBALL
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in Brooklyn
Hattie Carthan Playground, Bedstuy
Courts: 2 courts painted on asphalt, BYON
Ericsson Playground, Williamsburg
Courts: 4 courts painted on asphalt, BYON
PS9, Prospect Heights
Courts: 2 courts taped on refinished court surface in the school playground, BYON
Open Play times: Organized via the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_prospectheights
Kaiser Park, Coney Island (New, November 2022)
Courts: 4 dedicated courts
Open Play times: Organized via TeamReach code kpp123
McCarren Park, Williamsburg
Courts: 10+ courts painted on asphalt, BYON. Note: Surface is quite rough, with cracks and weed patches running through the courts. Lines are not perfectly straight and all dimensions are approximate!
Open Play times: Organized via the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_williamsburg. The park is regularly permitted for other organized sports, check for permits here before going.
Marsha P. Johnson Park, Williamsburg
Courts: 2-3 chalked courts on asphalt, BYON. This state park space is relatively open on weekdays, but there are no permanent lines here. Be prepared to measure and chalk your own courts if the existing chalk lines have faded or been removed.
Open Play times: Organized via the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_williamsburg
Marine Park Pickleball Courts, Marine Park
Courts: 8 dedicated courts with nets (Newly updated May 2023)
Open Play times: Daily, starts at 9 AM
Purportedly the oldest group of pickleballers in Brooklyn (by time played, not age!), this group is the model for cooperation with the NYC Parks Department. Starting from lines on tennis courts and portable nets, they have now developed the site to have 8 brand new dedicated pickleball courts. It is by far the biggest public installation of pickleball courts in the five boroughs. Limitless parking, with bathrooms on site. Mike Chaiet is one of the go-to people for this site. TeamReach code: MPPBA
John J Carty Park, Bay Ridge
Courts: 4 dedicated courts with dedicated nets
Open Play times: All day, everyday, usually starting after 10 AM for open play
New York City’s first public, fully dedicated courts. It is right by the highway so it can get a bit noisy, but who can complain when you’re on some of the most beautiful courts in New York. TeamReach code: FHP
Leif Ericson Tennis Courts, Sunset Park
Courts: 4 dedicated courts with dedicated nets
Open Play times: Everyday, starting at 11:00-4:00 PM. Summer hours may be extended
So friendly, they even named their group “Friendly Pickleball”, this is a group open to all levels of play. The courts were recently resurfaced and painted and they are a sight to see. Contact Hoi Leuong for the inside scoop. TeamReach code: ontheline
Pier 2 Pickleball Courts, Brooklyn Heights
Courts: 4 dedicated pickleball courts with nets, covered with lights on until 8 PM during the winter, until 11 PM during spring/summer. Play is no longer permitted on the handball courts!
Open Play times: Larger groups appear on the courts around 9 AM-12 PM and then again after work like 5PM to lights off.
On the east river near the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, this community of players is one of the fastest growing groups in the city. TeamReach code: 11201
Squibb Park, Brooklyn Heights
Courts: 3 lined courts, portable nets needed (BYON). Some street lamps make it somewhat usable through dusk.
Open Play Times: Ad Hoc, sometimes people organize private games there.
Right near the Brooklyn Pier is the elevated Squibb Park, with 3 taped courts. A few downsides are the surface is on the smooth side, and one court lacks room around the edges while the other two courts are in a large open area so chasing put away balls can become exhausting. But the upside is that you have one of the most amazing views looking out over Manhattan along with the iconic Brooklyn bridge.
Indoor Pickleball Courts in Brooklyn
Major Owens Community Wellness Center, Crown Heights
Courts: 4 lined courts, Swiftnets and indoor Onix Fuse balls provided
Open Play Times: We organize indoor, leveled open plays Monday - Friday mornings. Courts are capped at 5-6 players per court, $25 for 2-2.5 hours. Reserve your spot here!
Open Court Rentals: You can also book private court time for $50/hr off-peak or $65/hr peak. These courts are permanent lines in a basketball gym with incredibly high ceilings. A swiftnet and indoor balls are provided for use with each booking.
These NYC Recreation centers are now hosting indoor pickleball sessions for the season. Courts are typically taped on basketball gym floor surfaces. Balls and nets are provided for these sessions. Please check weekly schedules linked below. Annual Rec Center membership is required.
Queens PICKLEBALL
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in Queens
Ravenswood Playground, Astoria, Queens
Courts: 1-2 taped pickleball courts on the handball courts, BYON. The tape here gets removed quite frequently. Be prepared to re-tape or chalk the lines as needed if you organize games here.
Open Play times: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_astoria_lic.
Gantry Plaza Practice Tennis Courts, Long Island City (LIC), Queens
Courts: 2 taped pickleball courts on the tennis practice courts, BYON.
Open Play times: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_astoria_lic.
Louis C Moser Playground, Jackson Heights, Queens
Courts: 8 painted pickleball courts on asphalt lot (BYON)
Open Play Times: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_moser.
Rockaway Beach, 102nd Street (Added Aug 2022)
Courts: 1 dedicated pickleball court
Open Play times: This is a brand new court at the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach. TeamReach code Red102.
Astoria Park Courts, Astoria
Courts: 4 painted pickleball court on covered asphalt, portable nets needed (BYON).
Open Play Times: Organized ad hoc in the NYC Pickleball Slack group, channel #games_astoria_lic.
Roy Wilkins Park, St. Albans, Queens
Courts: 4 lined courts on tennis courts, if playing with open play, nets are provided, otherwise BYON
Open Play Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays 10:00-1:00 PM Spring-Fall
Slowly but surely, unused tennis courts are being converted to pickleball courts. This group has permanent lines for 2 pickle courts set up, and they’re working on having a second tennis court fully converted as well. If you would like to bring your own net and play during other hours, please notify the Roy Wilkins Rec Center. During the indoor season, they play in the rec center with up to 3 potential courts set up there. No teamreach code at the moment, but contact Elmaestro2@nyc.rr.com if you have any inquiries.
Indoor Pickleball Courts in Queens
NYC Recreation centers are now hosting indoor pickleball sessions. Courts are typically taped on basketball gym floor surfaces. Balls and nets are provided for these sessions. Please check weekly schedules linked below. Please note that annual Rec Center membership is required.
Bronx PICKLEBALL
Outdoor Pickleball Courts in The Bronx
Van Cortland Park
Courts: 1 Painted Court in the southwest corner of the park, BYON
Open Play Times: Ad Hoc
I have only seen this site via google maps satellite view but it looks like there is room for at least 5 more courts! TeamReach Code: 10471SW
Staten Island PICKLEBALL
Outdoor Pickleball Courts on Staten Island
Fairview Park
Courts: 3 Fully Dedicated Courts
Open Play Times: Everyday from 8 AM to sundown weather permitting.
A community of over 100 players call these beautiful courts their home. Sometimes the groups bring lights for “Friday Night Lights”. The same community of players play at the Jewish Community Center when the weather isn’t great, so you know these are a very dedicated group of players.
Indoor Pickleball Courts on Staten Island
Staten Island Jewish Community Center (1466 Manor Road)
Courts: 3 courts on hard surface acrylic (both indoor and outdoor balls work).
Great indoor location for those looking for play after work hours. For any inquiries, send an email to mchua@sijcc.org. TeamReach code: 531707734b and FB page is called JCC Manor Road.