Roundup: Boston Public Tennis Courts

Tennis photo via Shutterstock

If you love tennis but aren’t quite as into the whole country club culture (and price tag), we’ve got good news for you: There are plenty of places to play a no-frills game of tennis in the city, no tennis whites or pricey membership fee required.

Greene-Rose Heritage Park

Located in Cambridge, this park has several tennis courts that are open to the public on a first come, first served basis. There are also plenty of green spaces, gardens, and a children’s playground to enjoy post-match.

238 Broadway St., Cambridge, 617-349-4639; cambridgema.gov.

Boston Common

Chances are, the Common is already your green space of choice. But did you know everyone’s favorite park boasts outdoor tennis courts that are open year-round, too? Just be prepared to battle the crowds during peak hours.

Intersection of Boylston and Charles streets, Boston; waymarking.com.

Charlestown Bridge

Underneath a bridge isn’t exactly where you’d expect to find court, but it’s true. The two courts are open 24/7 and are (sometimes) lit at night, plus they’re right by the water.

605 Commercial St., Boston.

Museum of Science

Get a game in while the kids explore the museum. Since there are no lights, these two courts are only open during daylight hours, but they are open all year long. Another thing to keep in mind: There’s no formal waiting area, so you may have to wait your turn with cars zipping by you on the highway interchanges and Storrow Drive.

1 Charles River Dam Road, Boston.

MIT DuPont Courts and J.B. Carr Tennis Bubble

Pretend you’re an MIT student for a day by taking advantage of the school’s excellently-maintained tennis complex. The 12 outdoor courts are free but require a reservation at least three days in advance, and the indoor tennis bubble is open to the public (with the exception of 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when it’s MIT students and guests only) for a fee.

Indoor courts are $26/hr before 2 p.m. on weekdays, or $42/hr after 2 p.m. or on weekends. 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-253-1451; mit.edu.

Southwest Corridor Park

This unique 4.7-mile-long park stretches from the Back Bay to Forest Hills (which, incidentally, makes it a great running route), and features five public tennis courts along the way. One court is in the South End, and other courts can be found in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain.

Headquarters address is 38 New Heath St., Jamaica Plain, 617-727-0057; mass.gov.

Constitution Beach

At Constitution Beach, you can play a rousing game of tennis and then cool off with a dip. There are also plenty of picnic areas, a playground, handball courts, and a bathhouse. Plus, it’s right off the Blue Line Orient Heights station.

799 Bennington St., East Boston; bostonharborwalk.com.

Moynihan Recreation Area at Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park

There’s plenty to do at this recreation center, which offers two tennis courts along with a spraydeck, reservable baseball field, playground, basketball court, and picnic areas.

1015 Truman Parkway, Hyde Park, 617-698-1802; mass.gov. 

Where do you play? Let us know in the comments.