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, 30 basketball courts
- Asser Levy Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Augustus St. Gaudens Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Bellevue South Park (NYC Parks page)3 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Chelsea Park (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- De Witt Clinton Park (NYC Parks page)2 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Dr. Gertrude B. Kelly Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Gutenberg Playground (NYC Parks page)3 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Hell's Kitchen Park (NYC Parks page)2 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Mathews-Palmer Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- McCaffrey Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Murphy Brothers Playground (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Penn South Playground (NYC Parks page)2 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Peter's Field (NYC Parks page)5 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- Ramon Aponte Park (NYC Parks page)1 basketball court · Midtown · asphalt
- Robert Moses Playground (NYC Parks page)3 basketball courts · Midtown · asphalt
- St. Vartan Park (NYC Parks page)2 basketball courts · Midtown · 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.