Looking for free public tennis courts in Charlotte area? We’ve got you covered
NE1-410S?
That old license plate — which translates as “Anyone for tennis?” — is what we’re talking about today.
Did you know there are dozens and dozens of public tennis courts in the Charlotte area where you can play for free, no matter whether you’re just learning the game or deeply familiar with the UTR or NTRP rating systems?
As an avid adult league player and a longtime volunteer high school tennis coach in the area, I’ve tried out all of these public courts over the years. This is by no means a complete list. But here are a half-dozen of the public tennis court complexes where open, free courts aren’t usually hard to come by. (All are hard courts; most are lighted. The only clay courts in the area belong to private clubs).
If you want to find more possibilities, just search “USTA” and “Find a Court” and an even fuller list of courts in the area will pop up once you enter your address.
Technically, certain courts at these complexes are always open for play. Many of the others can be reserved through a Mecklenburg County parks and recreation website (where you can reserve pickleball and volleyball courts, too).
In reality, if you just show up, you will usually find a free court at any of these places. In alphabetical order:
Freedom Park
Address: 1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte.
Number of courts: 10 (as well as six public pickleball courts).
Synopsis: Six courts are within view and directly off East Boulevard. But my favorite place to play is the four courts deep in the back of the park. Circle to your right, behind the youth baseball fields, to get there. It’s much quieter than the “front courts,” as people call them. The back courts are where the six pickleball courts are located as well.
Also, if you’ve never been to Freedom Park in general, you must go. It’s a jewel. Walk around the lake at the least.
Howard Levine Tennis Center
Address: 2229 Tyvola Road, Charlotte (near Marion Diehl Park).
Number of courts: 13.
Synopsis: These courts were built through a public-private partnership between Mecklenburg County, private donors and Queens University of Charlotte (which has several other athletic facilities in the same complex). As the home courts for both the men’s and women’s teams at Queens University, they are in excellent shape and have some of the best spectator views of any tennis courts in Charlotte.
When Queens players aren’t using the courts — and most of the time they’re not — the courts are free and open to the public.
Jetton Park
Address: 19000 Jetton Park Road, Cornelius.
Number of courts: 8.
Synopsis: A gorgeous setting for tennis, with tall pines and oaks surrounding you on three sides. I’ve seen deer taking a look at the players on the courts several times.
Try to play on the front four courts by the parking lot if you can — those get more sun and are in better shape. The back four courts are OK, but they slope a little. And if it has rained anytime in the past five hours, they probably aren’t dry.
While you’re in Jetton Park, check out the walking trails, the expansive playground and the man-made beach. This is one of the prettiest parks in our area, and a great place to hang out whether you play tennis or not.
North Mecklenburg Park
Address: 16131 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville.
Number of courts: 6.
Synopsis: These courts are part of a well-designed park that also includes walking trails, softball fields and a lot of woods. All of my kids have loved the playground over the years, which isn’t huge but is shady and well-designed.
Park Road Park
Address: 6225 Park Road, Charlotte.
Number of courts: 12.
Synopsis: This is a nice location in the SouthPark area, and it has enough courts that they are rarely all being used at the same time. Don’t get confused: when you Google it, you need to put “Park Road Park tennis courts,” not just “Park Road Park,” because the tennis courts are separate and across the street from some other aspects of this large park.
Spartan Park
Address: 13828 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville.
Number of courts: 8.
Synopsis: Relatively new, these courts are stacked in two sets of four (upper and lower). They are frequently used for both high school matches (the name “Spartan Park” refers to the Community School of Davidson Spartans) and USTA league matches. Most of the time, you can find an open court to hit.
Honorable mention: Latta Park, Jeff Adams Tennis Center, Veterans Park and Hornets Nest Park.
