Future Venues: Golden Gate Park Tennis Center

Despite setbacks due to COVID-19, San Francisco Rec & Parks in partnership with the San Francisco Tennis Coalition is set to open the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center on March 3, 2021!*

Last month, we spoke to Julie Exley, Executive Director of the Tennis Coalition, to comment on the progress of construction and what we could expect from a new tennis complex in the heart of the city.

The $27 million Dennis & Lisa Goldman Center will feature 17 high quality courts and a state-of-the-art clubhouse, fitted with locker rooms, youth academy & training area, pro shop, garden/patio spaces, and other amenities. 

h/t San Francisco Tennis Coalition

The center will be replacing a 125+ year old structure built in 1894 (oldest in the West)  and enjoyed by 600,000 visits from San Francisco tennis players yearly. New lights on all courts in the new center will bring 20,000+ more hours of play and an expected 1 MILLION visits each year! 

Possibly the most notable addition is a sunken-in court with permanent seating, providing the ability to host championship matches for the best tennis you can watch in SF!

Current progress. You can see the pickleball courts on the left, the sunken court in the center bottom.
h/t San Francisco Tennis Coalition

Exley told us that the goal of the project is to build community via the sport and the space. 

Tennis has a storied tradition here in San Francisco, with some of the top players in the world gracing the courts in Golden Gate Park along with millions of amateurs and recreational players over the course of more than a century. When asked if San Francisco was a tennis city, Exley replied, “Definitely.”

The Golden Gate Tennis Center, operated by Lifetime Tennis on land owned by the San Francisco Rec & Parks Department, is to be a community hub for all of San Francisco and one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation. It will combat the formation of neighborhood pods that form in isolated courts around the city and instead try to form a wider network of players and spaces. With funding complete and construction nearing completion, the Tennis Coalition is now looking towards operations & events, and planning out what things will look like post-pandemic. 

If you’re still not convinced, Exley let us in on some of the exciting events in store for 2021 and after:

• The SF Open will be an open tournament with pros from across the world competing for a $50k prize

• The 7x7 Neighborhood Tournament for bragging rights as the best in the city

• Elevated existing events like high school championships, USTA national exhibitions, and league play

The Squadz Team will continue to work towards the promotion of the sport and the expansion of accessibility for all at the Golden Gate Tennis Center and beyond!

* Updated date on March 1, 2021 to reflect new opening date

No Reservation? No Problem! OPEN Tennis Courts in SF that you can't find on Spotery!

Last updated: December 12th, 2020

We understand how frustrating it can be when you can’t reserve a tennis court for you and your family or friends. Luckily for San Francisco residents, there are hidden gems all around that are waiting to be played on! We’ve compiled a list of dedicated tennis courts (disconnected from other recreation areas) that are often overlooked that you can’t find on Spotery, SF Rec & Park’s online reservation system. Service!

We will do our best to keep this list up-to-date, but things may change pretty quickly in this environment. Please email us at info@squadz.com if you find any more court recommendations!

Note from The Squadz Team: We do not condone reckless use of facilities that might jeopardize the containment of the COVID-19 virus. Please wear a mask whenever possible and keep your distance from people outside of your group. We simply want this to be a helpful resource for families, roommates, or quarantine units to get outside and watch responsibly.

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Corona Heights Tennis Areas: States St. Playground, Flint St. Courts, and Peixotto Playground

Corona Heights - roosevelt way

Corona Heights may be one of the more slept-on recreation areas in San Francisco. There are 3 separate tennis areas around the mountainous terrain with their own respective views and vibes. Off States St, there is a single court directly adjacent to the States St playground which makes it a great spot for parents with children. The elevated court can be subject to mild wind conditions as it isn’t protected from the elements like the Flint St and Pexiotto Playground courts. Flint St Courts are nestled in the hillside with tall fences to keep in errant tennis balls. There are 2 gorgeous blue and green courts. The courts are also just below the Randall Museum and open up to a pedestrian path up to the Corona Heights Summit. Peixotto Playground is also home to 2 courts, and they are situated at the bottom of the northeastern slope off 15th St. There is a limited amount of dedicated parking for this spot.

Youngblood-Coleman Playground

India Basin - hudson avenue

Deep into the India Basin neighborhood near the Bayview lies Youngblood-Coleman Playground. Newly renovated, the recreation space boasts new basketball courts (fullsize court + half court) and tennis courts (with its own dedicated area). Rebecca Ln and Bowman Ct opens to the tennis area, but you should be able to find parking easily anywhere nearby. There are awesome lights for night play!

Margaret S. Hayward Courts

Fillmore - laguna street

The most recently unveiled recreation project out of the SFRPD is Margaret S. Hayward Recreation Center in the Fillmore. The $28 million facility spared no expense when it come to the best playground, soccer, basketball, and tennis infrastructure. Two beautiful new tennis courts adorn the space off Laguna St in between Turk St and Golden Gate Ave. With a lot of buzz around this space, you’ll want to get here early.

Mission Playground

mission district - 19th street & linda street

In the heart of the Mission, hidden behind bars, homes, a bookstore and an alleyway, is a cradle of recreation activity. Mission Playground offers a pool, a full size basketball court, a full size soccer field and two dedicated tennis courts. The tennis courts are very pretty and accessible via entrance off 19th St or Cunningham Pl. There is a small gate off of Linda St into the basketball court but it’s probably locked. 

Alamo Square Park

alamo square - steiner street & hayes street

Alamo Square Park is one of the most iconic parks in San Francisco. The Painted Ladies, the views of the city scape, and the perfectly manicured slopes provide for a wonderful place to hang out. But did you know there was a tennis court at the top of the hill? This court is slightly hidden underneath the large trees at the top of the Square, but helps as a windscreen during play. This location is hard to beat if you’re looking for spectacular views!

Excelsior Playground

Excelsior - madrid street

Another court with lights is a smaller neighborhood court at Excelsior Playground! With decent wind protection and tall fences, this court is a great place for beginners working on their game. No need to worry about other courts in the vicinity or mixing with basketball players. Access the court on Russia Avenue between Madrid St and Edinburgh St. This spot is also a good backup to the Crocker Amazon courts close by!

Cayuga Playground

Outer Mission - naglee street

Sandwiched between Alemany Blvd and the 280 freeway, Cayuga holds a great, clean, dedicated tennis court for prospective players living in the southern areas of San Francisco. A hidden gem, this playground could be what you’ve been looking for! Parking may be limited on Cayuga Ave or Naglee Ave, so if necessary there is a path to the park from Alemany Blvd.

Merced Heights Playground

Merced Heights - shields Street

Merced Heights Playground is now among the top playgrounds in the city after the recent renovation. With a gorgeous new tennis court adjacent to it basketball and volleyball courts, this playground is fast becoming a popular recreation destination. Note that the space is a community hub for neighborhood children, and they may get priority for any of the rec spaces.  

Golden Gate Heights Park

golden gate heights - 12th avenue

This hilltop park sneakily holds 2 beautiful green & blue tennis courts in the western part of San Francisco in the labyrinth of streets near the Golden Gate Heights and Forest Hill neighborhoods. The fences surrounding the courts are tarped and there are trees enveloping the play area from all sides so don’t expect a hilltop view like some of the other courts around town!

Mission Bay Park Court

Mission Bay - Berry Street

Located right along the water by Mission Creek, this single tennis court in Mission Bay is perfect for playing while staying socially distant from other groups. The fences around the court also provide decent wind protection. You might catch some less-than-ideal smells from some of the creek sewage while you play, but the courts are not usually too busy until later the evenings.

Alta Plaza Hilltop Courts

pacific heights - JACKSON STREET & STEINER STREET

Alta Plaza is a well known iconic San Francisco park. It is very well frequented and so are its three tennis courts on top of the park. For best results, arrive during off hours to secure one of the two dedicated tennis courts without basketball hoops. The third court has basketball hoops installed, so watch out for ballers.

If you check out any of these bars on gameday, tag us @squadz in your Instagram story to be featured on our account!

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Looking FOR info on where to play sports in San Francisco?

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Know of any other outdoor viewing setups in SF or other parts of the Bay Area? Hit us up here or email us at info@squadz.com.

Check out More pieces like this on The Playbook by squadz, our local guide to sports & Recreation in your city.

Best Tennis Courts in San Francisco

If you didn’t know already, outdoor tennis has been permitted in San Francisco since June 6th! So if you’re tired of dodging joggers on your walks along the Embarcardero, here are some of our favorite courts you can check out to hit with a friend or play a game of doubles for some exercise under the sun.

Note from The Squadz Team: We do not condone reckless use of facilities that might jeopardize the containment of the COVID-19 virus. Please wear a mask whenever possible and keep your distance from people outside of your group. We simply want this to be a helpful resource for families, roommates, or quarantine units to get outside and play responsibly.

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Mission Bay Parks Tennis Court

Mission Bay - Berry Street

Located right along the water by Mission Creek, this single tennis court in Mission Bay is perfect for playing while staying socially distant from other groups. The fences around the court also provide decent wind protection. You might catch some less-than-ideal smells from some of the creek sewage while you play, but the courts are not usually too busy until later the evenings.

Glen Park Tennis Courts

Glen Park - Elk St

Arguably the nicest courts in San Francisco, the Glen Park Tennis Courts have recently been resurfaced and sport a hitting wall and staunch wind protection. It’s no wonder that both courts are very busy during open hours. Reserve your court time for free here.

Balboa Park Tennis Courts

Balboa Park - San Jose Ave

Balboa Park offers several courts in prime condition, but the wind can be brutal at times. These courts are close to City Racquet Shop, so if you need to rent/re-string a racquet, get new grips, or buy other equipment, this is your best bet! Reserve your court time for free here.

Alta Plaza Park

Pacific Heights - Jackson St & Steiner St

Terraced Alta Plaza Park in Pacific Heights offers ample space for various types of recreation, including tennis. There are 3 courts to choose from, but 1 court with multiple basketball hoops will probably be overrun by basketball-deprived hoopers. It’s not very private as there are many people out and about in the park, but it’s a great spot for some casual play.

Mission Dolores Park Tennis Courts

Mission - 18th St & Dolores St

Dolores Park is a staple for many San Franciscans due to its sizeable grassy slopes, sweeping views, sunny microclimate, central location, and great people-watching. The tennis courts are no exception. It typically gets busy around 5pm after people finish up with work (so maybe consider playing between zoom meetings while WFH). Fortunately, the courts are well lit, so it’s a great spot to play later at night, too. Don’t get tempted by the coco locos…keep your eye on the ball!

Margaret Osborne DuPont Park

Outer Richmond - 31st Ave

The Margaret DuPont Tennis Courts lie along the edge of Seacliff and the Outer Richmond. There is ample parking and the courts are usually not too busy. Enjoy the pristine courts and the fresh ocean air! Reserve your court time for free here.

If you check out any of these courts, tag us @squadz in your Instagram story to be featured on our account!

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Looking for more ways to play tennis in San Francisco?

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Have a favorite tennis court in SF or other parts of the Bay Area that we should feature here? Hit us up here or email us at info@squadz.com.

Check out More pieces like this on The Playbook by squadz, our local guide to sports & Recreation in your city.