Best Public Tennis Courts in Houston, TX

Houston is a sprawling city with dozens of quality parks to choose from, and most of them have tennis courts. With more than 75 public parks with tennis courts, there’s probably one near you. Not all of these courts are in the best condition, though, and not all of them have essential features like lights or practice walls. Below is our ranking of the ten best public tennis courts in Houston to help you find the right spot for your next match.

Houston’s Best Public Tennis Courts

• Emancipation Park
• Wilson Memorial Park
• Willow Park
• Moody Park
• Spotts Park
• Nottingham Park
• Jaycee Park
• River Oaks Park
• Melrose Park
• Memorial Park Tennis Center

10. Emancipation Park

• 3018 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX 77004
• (713) 528-1872

Emancipation Park Conservancy is one of Houston’s gems with a ton of facilities and amenities. It’s also home to one newly-renovated tennis court complete with lights and a practice wall. Its location in south-central Houston makes it a great option for city dwellers, and they also offer youth tennis programs. There is only one court, though, and it’s strictly available on a first-come, first-served basis.

9. Wilson Memorial Park

• 100 Gilpin St, Houston, TX 77034
• (713) 948-9051

One of the biggest things Wilson Memorial Park has going for it is its location. It’s in Southeast Houston, where there aren’t a lot of other public courts available, and the courts themselves are in a secluded part of the park, meaning you’ll get to enjoy privacy while you play and you probably won’t have to wait long for a court to open up. The two courts are also lighted, meaning you can squeeze in a game in the evening if that’s what works for your schedule.

8. Willow Park

• 10400 Cliffwood Drive, 77035

This small neighborhood park is newly renovated, meaning that it has two of the nicest tennis courts in the city with brand-new hard surfaces and lights. Nestled in a neighborhood but close to the interstate, it’s easy to get to from wherever you are.

7. Moody Park

• 3725 Fulton Street, 77009
• (832) 395-7645

With two lighted courts, a central location, and a nearby community center with plenty of other recreation opportunities, this is a great set of courts to visit if you want to take a dip in the pool afterwards. The location can make the courts and the park itself a bit crowded at times, but with plenty of options for activities, you’ll have good ways to kill time until you can get a court.

6. Spotts Park

• 401 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
• (832) 394-8805

Just a short walk up from the Buffalo Bayou greenway is Spotts Park. It’s also right across the interstate from downtown, making the setting convenient as well as beautiful, with a mix of parkland and skyscrapers for views. The park itself is a popular spot for yoga, basketball, dog walking, and of course, tennis. Spotts Park has two lighted courts situated in the northeast corner of the park.

5. Nottingham Park

• 14205 Kimberley Ln, Houston, TX 77079
• (281) 353-8100

This new, well-appointed park on the west side of town has two well-surfaced, well-maintained courts with lights and a practice wall. Just about the only downside here is that these are some of the most popular courts in the city, meaning you can often have a hard time getting access to one. Nottingham Park itself has plenty of other amenities as well as a nice walking trail, and it’s a very short drive from the sprawling George Bush Park, so you’ll be able to find something to do if you can’t get a set in.

4. Jaycee Park

• 1300 Seamist Dr, Houston, TX 77008
• (832) 395-7000

Jaycee Park isn’t the biggest, but it’s got a lot when it comes to tennis. With two full-sized courts and two kids’ courts that can also work for pickleball, you usually won’t have trouble getting a court. It’s situated in the Heights, close enough to the interstate to be convenient but far enough away to feel quiet and secluded. Unfortunately, there are no lights or practice walls. Courts are available first-come, first served.

3. River Oaks Park

• 3600 Locke Ln, Houston, TX 77027
• (713) 622-5998

If you want to be sure to get a court, River Oaks is a great option. It’s a tiny park, sandwiched between the suburb of River Oaks and the Upper Kirby commercial strip, but they squeeze in four courts (unfortunately unlighted) as well as a community center where you can stop to cool off or enjoy other activities.

2. Melrose Park

• 12200 Melrose Park Road, 77076
• (281) 447-0514

Most public parks in Houston have one or two courts at most, but Melrose Park boasts four courts, with lights. This makes it a great option for large groups and even small tournaments. The tennis courts are in a secluded corner of the park, surrounded by trees, so you’ll be able to enjoy some shade and privacy as you play.

1. Memorial Park Tennis Center

• 1500 E Memorial Loop Dr, Houston, TX 77007
• (832) 395-7556

Situated in the sprawling Memorial Park, just a short drive west of Downtown, the Memorial Park Tennis Center is THE public tennis spot in Houston. It boasts 18 reservable, lighted courts, practice walls, and amenities like a pro shop, locker rooms, and racket stringing services that you can really only find at private clubs. Courts are also reservable for free if you’re a resident.

Location	Amenities	Availability	Location	Cost
Emancipation Park	Lights, Practice Wall	One court, no reservations	South Central	Free
Jaycee Park	Kids’ Courts	Two full-sized courts, two kids’ courts, no reservations	Houston Heights	Free
Wilson Memorial Park	Lights	Two courts, no reservations	Southeast Houston	Free
Willow Park	Lights	Two courts, no reservations	Near Southwest	Free
Nottingham Park	Lights, Practice Wall	Two courts, no reservations	West Houston	Free
Moody Park	Lights	Two courts, no reservations	North-Central Houston	Free
Melrose Park	Lights	Four courts, no reservations	North Houston	Free
River Oaks Park	none	Four courts, no reservations	River Oaks	Free
Spotts Park	Lights	Two courts, no reservations	Downtown	Free
Memorial Park Tennis Center	Lights, practice walls, pro shop, locker rooms, stringing services	Eighteen courts, reservations available	Downtown	Free

How We Ranked the Courts

All things being equal, more courts are better. While there are some real gems out there with only a court or two, it’ll often be tough to get court time there, especially if you can’t make a reservation. Amenities like lights, practice walls, and pro shops are the next most important factor, since these can improve the quality of your experience and make it easier to play after dark or get some solo practice in. Finally, we’ll consider the surrounding area. Playing in a quality park, especially one with other amenities to enjoy before or after your set, is always a pleasure.