Finding available court time in NYC is challenging all year long and it’s especially difficult during the winter months. According to the USTA, Tennis participation in the US is booming, reaching 25.7 million players in 2024. New York City’s public courts are heavily used during the outdoor season, yet the vast majority become unusable during winter weather.

Our city has done a wonderful job installing 12 brand new outdoor tennis courts at Brian Watkins Tennis Center in East River Park. However, during the winter months these courts are frequently covered in snow or exposed to freezing temperatures, rendering them unusable for months at a time. In a city of over 8+ million residents, the seasonal loss of 12 full-size courts represents thousands of lost court hours each winter.

By comparison, winterized public facilities are able to operate 12 months per year, effectively increasing annual court availability by 30–40%. A heated seasonal bubble would dramatically expand access without requiring new land or permanent construction, we would simply maximize the investment we have already made in public infrastructure.

I propose we winterize the Brian Watkins Tennis Center courts with a heated bubble, transforming these courts into a year-round facility and creating a vibrant tennis community in lower Manhattan. Year-round access would:

• Add an estimated 8,000–10,000 additional playable court hours per winter season (based on 12 courts operating ~10–12 hours daily over 4–5 winter months).
• Provide consistent training space for youth programs, school teams, and community clinics.

Offering clinics, leagues, and private lessons at the tennis center would foster community spirit around tennis, connecting residents and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle. 

Having year-round courts in lower Manhattan also presents a major opportunity to introduce kids to tennis in an accessible way. The USTA and public parks departments nationwide have emphasized that proximity and affordability are two of the biggest drivers of youth participation. A winterized facility would remove both seasonal and financial barriers.

A seasonal bubble is cost-effective, removable, and already widely used in parks across NYC and the country to extend playing seasons without permanent structural changes.

Join me in advocating for the transformation of the East River Park tennis courts into a year-round facility. Signing this petition brings us one step closer to maximizing taxpayer investment, expanding equitable access to sport, and strengthening community health in lower Manhattan.

Let’s ensure our public tennis courts serve us throughout the year, promoting accessibility, fitness, and opportunity for all.