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How to Play in Riverside

All three RTA locations in Riverside Park are public courts, part of the New York City Parks & Recreation system. 

Anyone can play here.  Each player must have one of the following:

  • An NYC Parks full-season tennis permit for the current year.
  • Adults – $100, Seniors – $20, Juniors – $10
  • A day pass purchased upon arrival at the courts for $15, valid for that day only.
    • 96th Street:  Credit card and virtual wallet preferred, cash also accepted
    • 119th Street:  Purchased online only directly from Parks on a personal smartphone
  • A New York City Parks “Single Play” ticket. This refers to a physical paper ticket, not a confirmation email from purchasing single play tickets online.

96th Street RCTA - 10 Red Clay Courts

Same Day (In Person Only):  Courts are assigned first-come first-serve.  When the gate attendant arrives for the day (roughly 30 minutes before the first hour of play), they will begin accepting sign-ups for all hours of the day. The earlier you can arrive to reserve a court, the more times you are likely to have available to choose from throughout the rest of the day.  You are welcome to come down anytime to check availability or join the waitlist if the courts are fully booked.  For more details, see the rules of play below our locations.

Court availability varies widely based on hour of day, day of week and time of year.

Advance Reservations (Online Only):  Two courts are available for online booking up to a week in advance.  Bookings open at midnight.  Please refer to the NYC Parks Department website for more details on booking online.  Be sure you are booking at the correct location in Riverside – 96th and 119th are separate options.  If you are rained on from your online reservation court, you will receive a code by email for a credit towards another reservation.

Red clay courts are closed by rain and dry slower than other surfaces. Depending on the time of year and amount of rain, it may take between a few hours and a full dry day for the courts to reopen.  Call the RCTA Hotline for weather-related updates and opening times following rain: (212) 978-0277.

Book A Court through NYC Parks
Book a Court through NYC Parks

119th Street - 10 Hard Courts

Same Day (In Person Only):  Courts are given away first-come first-serve.  When the gate attendant arrives for the day, they will begin accepting sign-ups.  Players may only sign up for the next available hour.

Court availability varies based on hour of day, day of week and time of year.

Advance Reservations (Online Only): Two courts available for online booking up to a week in advance.  Please refer to the NYC Parks Department website for more details on booking online.  Be sure you are booking at the correct location in Riverside – 96th and 119th are separate options.  If you are rained on from your online reservation court, you will receive a code by email for a credit towards another reservation.

Players registered for private and group lessons through the RTA will receive a direct notification if there is a rainout or other cancellation that impacts them.

Outside of RTA programs and lessons, the Parks Department operates this facility.  There is no way to check the status of the 119th Street courts online.

172nd Street Fort Washington - 10 Hard Courts

This is an unstaffed NYC Parks facility that is always open for public use on a first-come, first serve basis

There is no way to reserve a court or to check the status of the courts at Fort Washington.  Simply come to the courts and find an open court when conditions allow.

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Rules of Play

  1. Courts are assigned on a first come, first served basis by the gate attendant (except at 172nd Street, which is an unstaffed facility).
    1. 96th Street:  Players may sign up for any available hour that day.
    2. 119th Street:  Players may sign up for the next available hour only.
  2. Singles play is for one hour, doubles play is for two hours.  Only one person must be present to sign up for a singles or doubles court.
  3. If no courts are available for the desired hour of play, players may join a waitlist.  You may only join one time slot’s waitlist.
  4. Courts assignments are held until on the hour exactly, no later. Unclaimed courts will be assigned to people on the Waitlist.  For singles, both players must be present to claim the court.  For doubles, at least two players must be present on the hour and all four must arrive by 30 minutes into the hour first in order to hold the court for two hours.
  5. Players can only sign up for a court once a day.  Repeating is possible when there is a court the next hour that has not been assigned.  If there is one repeater on a court, all players are considered repeaters.  Priority always goes to those who have not played yet that day.
  6. The horn sounds 5 minutes prior to the end of the hour.  All players must stop to sweep the court and the lines, so the next group can enjoy a fresh court. (96th Street only).
  7. Unauthorized teaching is not permitted on these courts.  Violators will be asked to leave.
  8. No more than 6 balls are allowed on each court, no exceptions.
  9. Players may only carry scooters and folding bikes onto the courts (no wheeling on the courts is permitted).
  10. The decision of the Gate Attendant regarding the interpretation of these rules, all other rules concerning play and the condition of the courts is final.
  11. ENJOY THE TENNIS AND PLEASE BE KIND TO OTHERS!