Pickup basketball, handball, pickleball and tennis in NYC

The courts, and what they cost

NYC Parks' data lists 1,748 basketball courts in 661 parks, 1,895 handball courts in 497, 653 tennis courts in 113 and 41 pickleball courts in 11. Parks says that in "the basketball capital of the world, it's possible to find a game within walking distance of any location."

Playing costs nothing, with one exception: tennis in season, below. Parks asks for a permit when organized leagues or special events use a field or court, free for people under 18. A game with whoever's there isn't that. Courts close for repairs and events now and then; each park's NYC Parks page has the latest.

Find one on free courts and tracks: filter by basketball, handball, tennis or pickleball, then by area. Playing after work? Only 39 parks' basketball courts are flagged as lit at night, so check before you go.

Basketball and handball

Bring a ball and go. Parks' handball page puts it simply: "Bring a ball to your local court", and it says that plenty of room remains on the courts for new players. Want to play indoors in winter? Parks says its recreation centers in all five boroughs have indoor courts, and those need a membership. Several YMCA branches list a basketball court or gym among their amenities.

Pickleball

Dedicated courts are fewer: 41 in 11 parks in the data, and Parks' own pickleball page lists more places than that, so check it too. If you've never played, Parks suggests learning at a recreation center: "Many of our recreation centers offer an introduction to the sport through drills, clinics, and game play with other members." On a tennis court, Parks' guidelines say tennis has priority over other uses, pickleball included. Volo also runs pickleball among its paid leagues and pickups.

Tennis: a permit in season

From the first Saturday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving you need a permit for an outdoor court. A single-play permit is $15 and covers one hour of singles or two of doubles; you buy it in person at a permit office, and Parks doesn't sell same-day permits online. A full-season permit is $100 for adults 18 to 61, $20 for 62 and older and $10 under 18. The prices are also on the tennis courts list, quoted from Parks.

At courts without an attendant, Parks sets the order: a permit holder for that time first, then whoever arrived first, partners included. Singles get an hour and doubles two, and if nobody's waiting you can keep playing. Parks also asks for smooth-soled tennis shoes and at most six balls per court. Most courts open at 8:00 a.m. and close at dusk.

Where the courts are

Parks with each kind of court, by area, from NYC Parks' own data (last updated July 23, 2026). Tap a number for the list, with a map link for each park.

Parks with each kind of court, by area. Each number links to the list.
Kind	Downtown	Midtown	Uptown	Brooklyn	Queens	The Bronx	Staten Island
Basketball	30	16	67	206	187	118	37
Handball	16	10	44	170	159	83	15
Tennis	4	1	13	33	44	11	7
Pickleball	1	0	0	4	2	2	2

Easiest places to start

From our list, running now: the ones that say beginners are welcome first, then the free and cheapest. In their own words.

Is this for me?

If you like a game that starts without a sign-up, yes: find a court, bring a ball and see who's there. Parks doesn't publish etiquette for basketball, handball or pickleball, so we won't invent any; watch a game first if you're unsure. If you'd rather have a fixed team and a set time, a paid league like Volo does that.

Ready to try it?

All 3 places in this guide, on one page, with prices to try. Narrow them by area or price there.

See all 3 places

We haven't done these ourselves yet.

The specifics come from each place's own website, checked on October 22, 2026. Prices and times change, so each place's page links to its live schedule. How we pick.

Checked at on October 22, 2026: