Best Public Tennis Courts in Indianapolis

While Indianapolis doesn’t have a flagship tennis center, the average city park in the area boasts several well-maintained tennis courts, meaning you’ll never have to go far to find one. There are a few especially nice spots, including some with indoor options for the winter months and multiple local universities that are open to the public.

Indianapolis’s Best Public Tennis Courts:

• Riverside Park
• Garfield Park
• Butler University Tennis Courts
• UIndy Tennis Center
• Ellenberger Park
• IUPUI Tennis Courts
• Tarkington Park
• Broad Ripple Park
• Sahm Park
• Christian Park

1. Riverside Park

• 2420 E Riverside Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46202
• (317) 327-7171

With twelve lighted courts and practice walls, Riverside Park has more and better tennis facilities than any Indianapolis city park. It’s a great place for tournaments or to just play a set or get some practice. It’s also in a sprawling park, one of the oldest in the city, that features a community center, amphitheater, theater company, golf course, and walking trails, so you’ll have plenty of reason to stick around before or after your court time.

2. Garfield Park

• 2345 Pagoda Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46203
• (317) 327-7183

Indianapolis’s oldest park is also one of its biggest, with over 100 acres and a huge variety of activities and amenities, including its famous pagoda. It’s also undergoing major renovations in 2024, meaning it’s likely to get even better in the near future. With eight lighted courts lined for singles, doubles, tennis, and pickleball, you’ll have no trouble getting a court to play on.

3. Butler University Tennis Courts

• 510 W 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208 (indoor courts)
• 828 W 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208 (outdoor courts)
• (800) 368-6852

Butler University’s tennis courts are a bit of a hidden gem. They’re free for the public to use as long as Butler’s tennis teams aren’t making use of them. Unfortunately, it can be hard to figure out exactly when that is, since they don’t offer a public scheduling or reservation system. Assuming the courts are open, you have ten of them to choose from: four indoors and six outdoors.

4. UIndy Tennis Center

• 2727 National Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227
• (317) 788-7700

The UIndy Tennis Center is a great option for indoor tennis in the winter months, especially for those on the southeast side of town. The $28 court fee, plus $10 per non-member isn’t cheap, but the ability to reserve a court, change on site, and enjoy a set regardless of the weather makes this a useful spot to keep in mind even for those who can’t afford a membership.

5. Ellenberger Park

• 5301 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
• (317) 327-7176

With a convenient location close to downtown and a huge variety of non-tennis options, Ellenberger Park is a great choice for a family outing with some time for tennis built in. With six lighted tennis courts, plus two pickleball courts in the same space, there’s plenty of space available and you’ll usually be able to get a court when you need to. The swimming pool is perfect for a dip when you’re done playing, and the number of courts plus the rentable indoor gathering space makes it a good choice for tournaments.

6. IUPUI Tennis Courts

• 214 University Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202
• 317-274-5555

These six brand-new tennis courts in the heart of downtown on the IUPUI campus are a hidden gem for city-dwellers. They’re fully open to the public and spacious, allowing for high-level play. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, but this only makes them a better option for those who live in the city and don’t need to drive. The new site means that there isn’t much shade available, unfortunately.

7. Tarkington Park

• 45 W 40th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208
• (317) 327-4553

While Tarkington Park’s tennis courts are fairly basic, lacking lights or practice walls, they’re also well-maintained and there are six of them, so you usually won’t have to wait for a court. The park itself is also a charming spot with a cafe, splash pad, and picnic shelter, making it a great place to bring your kids while you play a set or grab a meal after you’re done.

8. Broad Ripple Park

• 1426 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
• (317) 327-7161

A good option for those living on the northwest side of town, Broad Ripple Park offers six full-sized courts with convenient parking and a nearby port-a-potty. It’s not fancy, but it’s one of the best options in the area, and its beautiful, wooded setting next to the White river makes it a great place to go for a stroll before or after your set.

9. Sahm Park

• 6801 E 91st St, Indianapolis, IN 46250
• (317) 849-2227

Sahm Park is a huge, beautiful facility with a variety of amenities including a pool and aquatic center, disc golf, and basketball in addition to four tennis courts. While it lacks lights and other key features, the courts themselves are in good condition, and the location makes it ideal for residents on the northeast side of town.

10. Christian Park

• 4200 English Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46201
• (317) 327-7163

While it only has three courts, its convenient neighborhood location and family-friendly atmosphere makes this a popular destination in the neighborhood, and relatively low demand for tennis in the area means that you’ll be able to get a court if you need one. It’s relatively close to Ellenberger Park, making it a great backup option if you can’t get a court there.

Indianapolis’s Public Tennis Courts Compared

Facility	Amenities	Availability	Location	Cost
Ellenberger Park	Lights	6 full-sized courts, 2 pickleball courts, no reservations	Emerson Heights	Free
Garfield Park	Lights	8 courts, no reservations	Garfield Park	Free
Riverside Park	Lights, practice walls	12 courts, no reservations	Near Westside / Eagledale	Free
Christian Park	none	3 courts, no reservations	Christian Park	Free
Tarkington Park	none	6 courts, no reservations	Butler-Tarkington	Free
UIndy Tennis Center	Indoor courts, locker room, lounge	7 courts, reservation required	University Heights	$28 per court time, plus $10 per non-member
Broad Ripple Park	none	6 courts, no reservations	Washington Township	Free
IUPUI Tennis Courts	Lights	6 courts, no reservations	Downtown	Free
Butler University Tennis Courts	none	6 outdoor courts, 4 indoor courts, no reservations	Butler University Campus	Free
Sahm Park	none	4 courts, no reservations	Castleton	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.

The best public facilities in town are probably at UIndy and Butler University, but those courts have some serious limitations in terms of availability and price. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent public parks to choose from, especially Ellenberger and Garfield Parks. We shouldn’t sell the other city parks short, though. Indianapolis has an excellent park system, and even the lower-rated spots on this list offer several courts in beautiful settings.