Queensboro Oval Tennis Courts Open To Public

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side tennis club operating the Queensboro Oval tennis complex located underneath the Queensboro Bridge overpass is opening its doors to the public through a partnership with the city Parks Department.

The Sutton East Tennis Club, which leases the land occupied by the tennis bubble from the city, opened up six of its clay courts Friday to players with an NYC Parks Tennis Permit, the Parks Department announced. The permits allow players access to all tennis facilities operated by the Parks Department.

"NYC Parks is excited to launch this summertime pilot to promote equity by expanding access to public tennis at the Queensboro Oval tennis bubble," Parks Department Commissioner Mitchell Silver said in a statement. "At no additional fee to permit holders, New Yorkers can perfect their groundstrokes and serves on six indoor clay, air conditioned courts while enjoying increased access at this site."

The Parks Department recently slashed membership prices for tennis permits in half. Annual registration to use the city's 550 tennis courts currently costs $100 for adults, $20 for adults over the age of 62 and $10 for children under the age of 18.

Upper East Side residents and Community Board 8 — which represents the neighborhood — have advocated opening up the Queensboro Oval space to the public as parkland. In February the city extended the Sutton East Tennis Club's lease on the space for one year because no clear plan to reclaim the space for public use had been created.

"Access to public open space is in short supply on the Upper East Side, so any increase in availability for local residents is a welcome development. While a long-term plan for the Queensboro Oval is still being considered, I’m pleased that the majority of the tennis courts will be open to the public in the meantime," State Senator Liz Krueger said in a statement.

Photo courtesy New York City Parks Department