Overview
McCarren Park Tennis Courts is a free indoor public tennis facility in Brooklyn, New York, located at 50 Bedford Ave in the Williamsburg neighborhood. The courts are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge — no membership or reservation required. There are 7 courts with a hard surface. Courts are floodlit for evening play. McCarren Park Tennis Courts is one of 27 public tennis facilities (51 tennis venues in total) in Brooklyn — nearby options include New York City Tennis Club (1.5 km away) and The Johnson High Performance Tennis Academy (1.5 km away).
What players say Mixed reviews
Players find McCarren Park Tennis Courts to be a well-maintained facility with a heated indoor bubble and quality courts. Lessons and clinics with engaging coaches are available, along with junior programs and a friendly playing community. However, frustrations with booking difficulty, limited court availability, and customer service dampen the overall experience.
The facility has around six public hard courts, including an indoor bubble which is heated and well-maintained. Court 1 is designated as a singles-only court, and court 4 has limited space behind the baseline. Recent resurfacing has improved playing conditions.
Lighting is mixed — two night lights serve the class-reserved indoor courts, and some courts have limited lighting at night with the furthest court being quite dark. The indoor bubble provides good heating but ventilation can be inconsistent.
Booking is challenging due to limited courts and high demand, especially during peak times and winter. Courts fill early, often requiring players to show up an hour ahead or play in off-peak hours. The online reservation system is confusing and not user-friendly. Courts are available through a permit system, and drop-in play is limited.
The center offers group clinics, cardio tennis drills, and private lessons with great instructors who make lessons engaging and fun. Coaches like Gary are praised, and lessons run for various age groups and skill levels.
There are junior camps and classes offered, with court 1 often used for kids and tennis lessons. The facility runs programs for all ages, encouraging youth participation.
The player community is described as polite and friendly with an enthusiastic tennis culture. However, front desk staff receive criticism for poor customer service and rude behavior, negatively impacting player satisfaction.
The courts and facility are generally well maintained and clean, though some mention that the courts need occasional cleaning and restrooms have limited availability early in the season.
Court fees are considered high for public courts, with weekend rates around $55–70 per hour and lessons priced at $70 for 1.5 hours with multiple players. Refund processes are problematic and slow according to some players.
Hours & Popular Times
- Thursday · Today 5 AM–11 PM
- Friday 5 AM–11 PM
- Saturday 5 AM–11 PM
- Sunday 5 AM–11 PM
- Monday 5 AM–11 PM
- Tuesday 5 AM–11 PM
- Wednesday 5 AM–11 PM
Programs
Junior Competitive Pathway and Junior High Performance programs are offered.
Junior classes are offered for ages 3-17 at all levels, including recreational and high performance; the site also mentions junior competitive pathway/high performance offerings and tennis-specific drills, games, exercises, and footwork training.
Adult recreational clinics are offered for Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels with drills, stroke technique, footwork, and match play; junior classes are also offered for ages 3-17 at recreational and high-performance levels.