Alright, let me tell you about hitting the tennis courts in Central Park. It’s one of those things you hear about, playing right there in the middle of Manhattan. So, I figured, why not give it a shot?
First thing, I had to figure out how to even get on a court. It’s not like you can just walk up most times, especially when the weather’s nice. I heard you usually need a permit and then you gotta book a time slot. So, I went looking online, found the city parks website. It took a bit of clicking around, you know how those government sites can be sometimes, kinda clunky. Found the section for tennis permits, filled out the forms, paid the fee. Got my digital permit thing sorted.
Booking the Court
Okay, permit in hand, digitally speaking. Next step was actually booking a court. This part can be tricky. Slots open up early, and they go fast, especially for weekend mornings. I had to be ready right when the booking window opened. Logged in again, picked my date and time. Had a few options, mostly hard courts were available for when I wanted to play, which was fine by me. Managed to snag an hour slot. Felt like a small victory right there.
Getting There and Checking In
Day finally came. Grabbed my racquet, some balls, water bottle – the usual stuff. Took the subway uptown, then had a bit of a walk into the park to find the tennis center. It’s located mid-park, not far from the Reservoir. It’s a nice walk, helps you warm up a bit. Found the entrance to the Tennis Center. It’s a decent setup, you can see rows of courts.
Went up to the check-in desk inside the pro shop building there. Showed them my reservation confirmation on my phone, and my permit info. The staff were pretty straightforward, got me checked in quickly. They told me which court number was mine and pointed the way.
Playing in the Park
Walked out to my assigned court. It was a standard hard court, decent condition. The cool part is just being there. You’re surrounded by the trees of Central Park, you can hear the distant city sounds, but it’s surprisingly peaceful on the court itself. Sometimes you catch a glimpse of the buildings peeking over the trees.
- Got my stuff settled on the bench.
- Started hitting some balls with my buddy who met me there.
- The court played fine, pretty standard bounce.
- The hour went by fast, just enjoying the game and the unique location.
You see all sorts of players out there, different levels. It’s a real mix. People are generally focused on their games, but the atmosphere feels pretty relaxed overall.
Wrapping Up
Our time was up before we knew it. Packed up our gear, feeling pretty good after getting some exercise in. Walked back out through the park, feeling that pleasant post-tennis tiredness. It’s definitely an experience, playing tennis in such an iconic spot. Took a bit of planning with the permit and booking, sure, but wasn’t too bad once I figured it out. If you play tennis and you’re in NYC, I’d say go for it. It’s worth doing at least once.
