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.
16 parks, 49 handball courts
- Alfred E. Smith Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Baruch Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Cherry Clinton Playground (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Coleman Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- First Park (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Hamilton Fish Park (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Henry M. Jackson Playground (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- James J Walker Park (NYC Parks page)5 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Lillian D Wald Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Little Flower Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Luther Gulick Park (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Nathan Straus Playground (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Sara D. Roosevelt Park (NYC Parks page)4 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Tompkins Square Park (NYC Parks page)2 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- Vesuvio Playground (NYC Parks page)3 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
- West 4th Street Courts (NYC Parks page)3 handball courts · Downtown · asphalt
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.