Ranked by court count, lighting, and player reviews · Updated July 2026
Burnaby offers a variety of public tennis courts catering to players of all levels, with many venues featuring well-maintained outdoor hard courts and excellent lighting for evening play. Patterson - North Tennis Court Parking Lot and Central Park Public Tennis Courts stand out with their large number of courts—each boasting 12 outdoor hard courts—and evening lighting, making them top choices for both casual play and competitive programs including junior lessons, ladder leagues, and social events. However, Central Park’s courts can become crowded, especially on summer evenings and weekends, resulting in waits and occasional disputes over court rotation.
For quieter or less crowded options, Burnaby Lake Tennis Courts provide 17 well-maintained courts with 11 lit for night play in a tree-lined setting, though some memberships are required for certain courts indoors or in winter. Other venues like Robert Burnaby Park and Willingdon Heights offer free courts with practice walls, although many lack lighting, restricting nighttime play. Pickleball sharing and court availability can affect options at locations like Bonsor and Confederation Park. Overall, Burnaby's courts mostly operate on a free, first-come basis with no reservation system, so players should plan around peak times to avoid waits.
We rank public courts by facility quality, not just star rating — since most courts have few or no reviews. Each location is scored on: number of courts (up to 12 points), evening lighting (+4), surface material (+1 for documented surface), and a Bayesian rating signal (half-weight). Venues with a rating below 3 stars are excluded.
Patterson ranks #1 due to its 12 well-maintained outdoor hard courts with lighting for evening play, no fee, and amenities including washrooms and a clubhouse. Though not open to the general public, these courts offer ample play space in Burnaby, making it a top venue despite less player feedback.
Central Park offers 12 outdoor hard courts with lights and a practice wall, free for public use with organized programs and leagues. While popular with a mixed player sentiment due to crowding and court rotation disputes during busy times, it remains a premier, active hub for tennis in Burnaby.
Burnaby Lake features 17 well-maintained courts with 11 lit for night play in a quiet tree-lined setting, combining public access and member-only courts. Highly rated by players for quality surfaces, it is ideal for those seeking less crowding, though summer waits can occur.
Cariboo Park's two outdoors tennis courts are recently resurfaced, well maintained, and come with a practice wall. However, limited court availability and absence of evening lighting make this a more constrained option despite being free and first-come.
Robert Burnaby Park provides 10 outdoor hard courts with no lighting, but courts are well maintained with pickleball lines and a cement practice wall. The quiet setting and free first-come access appeal to players seeking less busy venues, though evening play isn’t possible.
Confederation Park offers 10 outdoor hard courts with free access and no membership cost, generally well maintained. Pickleball crowding affects tennis court availability and enforcement, a challenge for tennis players despite the quality surface.
Bonsor has six well-maintained outdoor hard courts without lighting, but heavy pickleball use restricts tennis availability, especially during peak times. Free and first-come, the courts are clean and shaded but can suffer from leaves and crowds.
Willingdon Heights features four outdoor hard courts with evening lighting and a practice wall, free and first-come. Though generally well maintained, some surface cracks and court unevenness persist, alongside usual peak time waits up to 45 minutes.
Forest Grove Park offers three outdoor tennis courts with a peaceful forested setting, free and usually not busy. While lighting is not clearly noted for tennis courts and minor upgrades are needed, it’s a good option for quiet, casual play.
Byrne Creek Tennis Courts provide three well-maintained outdoor courts with free first-come access and clubhouse amenities. Although no lighting is available, the venue is known for quiet surroundings and convenient parking, with occasional peak time busyness.
Yes — city-owned public tennis courts in Burnaby are free to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Some courts can be reserved online via the City of Burnaby parks booking system during peak season, but walk-up play is always available when courts are open.
Patterson - North Tennis Court Parking Lot, Central Park Public Tennis Courts, Burnaby Lake Tennis Courts, and Cariboo Park Tennis Courts all have lighting for evening play. These are the best spots for after-work drop-in games.
The parks with the most courts among this list are: Patterson - North Tennis Court Parking Lot (12 courts), Central Park Public Tennis Courts (12 courts), Cariboo Park Tennis Courts (12 courts). More courts means shorter wait times during busy periods.
Most public courts in Burnaby are walk-up only. The City of Burnaby offers an optional online reservation system for select courts during peak season (May–September). Courts without a reserved player are always open for drop-in play.
Most outdoor public courts in Burnaby close from November through April due to weather. A small number of city-operated indoor courts remain open year-round — check the City of Burnaby parks website for indoor availability and any associated booking fees.
Any public park court is a great starting point — no booking, no fee, just show up. Courts on quieter side streets or in residential parks tend to have shorter waits than high-traffic locations. If you're looking for coaching, several courts listed here are near clubs that offer beginner group lessons.
Yes — public courts in Burnaby do not provide equipment. Bring your own racquet and a few balls. If you need gear, most sporting goods stores in Burnaby carry beginner racquets for $30–$80. Some nearby tennis clubs also offer equipment rental.
This list covers the top 10 public tennis courts in Burnaby. For a full directory including all city-owned and privately operated venues, see the complete Burnaby tennis court directory.