Public courts and tracks.
Basketball, handball, tennis, pickleball and volleyball courts and running tracks in NYC parks, from NYC Parks' own list. NYC Parks' pages mention no permit for casual basketball, handball, pickleball or volleyball; tennis needs a NYC Parks permit until November 22, 2026 ($15 for a single play). The lit ones work after work.
32 parks, 33 running tracks
- Bayview Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Benson Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Betsy Head Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Bill Brown Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Callahan-Kelly Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Carter G. Woodson Children's Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Century Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- City Line Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Fort Hamilton Athletic Field (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Harry Maze Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Heckscher Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Hilltop Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Kaiser Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Kolbert Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Lincoln Terrace / Arthur S. Somers Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Linden Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · mondo
- McCarren Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- McKinley Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Police Officer John G. Scarangella Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Red Hook Recreation Area (NYC Parks page)2 running tracks · Brooklyn · rubber
- Seth Low Playground/ Bealin Square (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Sperandeo Brothers Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- St. John's Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- St. Mary's Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Star Spangled Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Stockton Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Stroud Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Ten Eyck Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- Thomas Boyland Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Tiger Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · asphalt
- West Playground (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
- Wingate Park (NYC Parks page)1 running track · Brooklyn · rubber
What NYC Parks says
“Organized leagues or special events need a permit to use an athletic field or court; for people under 18 the permit is free. NYC Parks' field and court map shows which have been permitted.” NYC Parks, /facilities/basketball, read October 22, 2026.
Tennis
“A permit is needed to use an outdoor court from the first Saturday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Single-play permits cost $15; full-season permits are $100 for adults 18 to 61, $20 for 62 and older and $10 under 18. Most courts are open from 8:00 a.m. to dusk.” NYC Parks, /permits/tennis-permits, read October 22, 2026.
NYC Parks' pages for basketball, handball, pickleball and volleyball courts mention no permit for casual play, and we found no Parks page for running tracks, so we add no rule for those. Pickleball: Parks' own pickleball page lists more courts than its dataset flags.
New to pickup? How pickup works on Parks courts, tennis permits included.
Source: NYC Parks, Athletic Facilities (last updated July 23, 2026) and Parks Properties for park names, on NYC Open Data, fetched October 22, 2026. Courts close for repairs and events; each park's NYC Parks page has the latest.