The 96th Street Clay Courts ARE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
THEY ARE NYC PARKS DEPARTMENT PUBLIC COURTS maintained and operated by the Riverside CLAY Tennis Association,
a non-profit volunteer organization, Affiliated with the Riverside Park Conservancy.
UPDATED RULES FOR 2021
- Permits or single play passes are required for play.
- There will be no free, advance online booking.
- Two courts are available for advanced reservations up to a week in advance for $15.
- Remaining courts available for in-person sign up on a first come/first serve basis.
HOW TO PLAY -
NOTE: Permits or Single Play required for 2021
The 96th Street Red Clay Tennis Courts (also known as the "Oscar Hijuelos Clay Courts) are public courts within the NYC Parks & Recreation system. Anyone can play. The courts are distributed on a first-come/first-serve basis.
Each player needs one of three things: REQUIRED IN 2021
- a NYC Parks season tennis permit, or
- $15 for a day permit, or
- a pre-printed "single play" ticket from NYC Parks
2021 Registration for Private Lessons Please click here to register for a private lesson. Register here.
2021 Spring GROUP LESSONS ARE ALL FULL
First Serve - Ages 3-4 beginner & intermediate
Junior Aces - Ages 9 -18 intermediate & advance
Adult Clinics - Beginner, low & high intermediate
2021 cardio and private lessons will be available for sign up in the spring, once we know when the courts will be resurfaced and open for play.
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Browse the RCTA Photo and Video Galleries
RCTA photos by Joe Josephs; videos by Eser Atilla.
GET THE NEW RCTA APP!
Download the new RCTA app (served by TennisGroups). Search for TennisGroups on Apple or Google. Then select the RCTA community. Check court condition, meet other players, Book lessons or courts, and much, much more.
The Riverside Clay Tennis Association is a not-for-profit organization charged with the maintenance and operation of the public red clay tennis courts (Oscar Hijuelos Clay Courts) in Riverside Park along the Hudson River near 96th Street.
In addition to maintaining the courts and the surrounding park land, the RCTA is responsible for operating the courts and all tennis programs at the courts.
The RCTA has over 900 members and raises over $600,000 each year to fulfill its mission. Members do not have playing privileges over non-members.
RCTA raises money through membership dues, donations, court fees and program fees.
The RCTA manages the courts on behalf of the Riverside Tennis Association, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Riverside Park Conservancy, a 501(c)3 organization, through the Conservancy’s licensing agreement with NYC Parks & Recreation.
