NYC Parks today announced that it would seek to cut adult annual tennis permit fees from $200 to $100, and to open online registration to first-time registrants, who Commissioner Mitchel J. Silver, FAICP, stated: “As host of the U.S. Open, New York City is one of the great global tennis cities – and with 550 tennis courts, there are opportunities to play in nearly every neighborhood.  Now we’re advancing our vision for equity and accessibility by cutting adult fees in half, and making registration easier than ever.”

In addition to the new fees and online system, Parks has added eight more locations where players can buy permits in-person, bringing the citywide total to 14.  IDNYC cardholders receive a 10 percent discount on annual permits. Permits for seniors 62 and over are $20, and permits for juniors below 18 cost $10. Single-play and reservation tickets cost $15.

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“As New York City’s Park system is home to over 550 courts across the five boroughs, nearly every community has the ability to play tennis right in their own neighborhood,” said Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the City Council Parks Committee. “However, by halving fees to $100 a year, and streamlining the application process for New Yorkers, playing tennis will be even more accessible to a wider population, including those with lower incomes. I applaud the Parks Department for taking this extraordinary step towards making New York’s recreational facilities more accessible to all New Yorkers, and look forward to working with them on similar initiatives in the future.”

 

“This is great news for the many thousands of New Yorkers who play tennis in our parks every day,” said Council Member Corey Johnson, Chair of the Committee on Health. “These changes make tennis more affordable and more accessible, and they’re truly an asset to the health and happiness of our citizens. I thank NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver and his extraordinary staff for implementing these reforms for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”

“We strongly support lowering the permit fees for tennis,” said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation.  “Any action that helps eliminate barriers to play will ensure that tennis is more accessible to New Yorkers.”

City Parks Foundation is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. CityParks Tennis brings high-quality instruction and equipment into neighborhoods where few tennis or other organized athletic opportunities exist. The program — held on 39 public courts in parks in all five boroughs — teaches tennis basics to more than 7,000 kids ages 5-17 each year, while providing opportunities for advancement through multiple levels of progressively challenging instruction.