One of the genuine pleasures of playing tennis on the Peninsula is how much free court time there is. Several cities maintain public courts that cost nothing, several of them lit, and you rarely have to travel far to find one.
This is a practical guide to where they are, which ones are worth the drive, and how to use a busy public court without annoying everyone else on it.
Court numbers, hours and access arrangements change. Please confirm current details with the relevant city parks department before travelling.
Redwood City
Redwood City has the most developed public provision in the immediate area. Courts are free, open seven days a week from dawn to dusk, and available on a first come, first served basis. Lighted courts run later into the evening, which makes them genuinely useful in winter.
| Location | Address | Courts | Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Morton Park | 1400 Roosevelt Ave | 4 | Yes |
| Mezes Park | Warren St at Standish St | 2 | Yes |
| Andrew Spinas Park | 2nd Ave at Bay Rd | 2 | Yes |
| Dolphin Park | Redwood Shores area | Courts available | Check locally |
| Marlin Park | Redwood Shores area | Courts available | Check locally |
Red Morton is the pick of them, with four courts and floodlights. Worth knowing before you go: two of the four also carry pickleball lines, while the other two are marked for tennis only. If the extra lines bother you, aim for the dedicated pair. For current information the city parks department can be reached on (650) 780-7311, and the official Redwood City tennis courts page lists any closures.
Foster City
Foster City spreads its courts across neighbourhood parks, which means they are rarely all busy at once. If Red Morton is full on a Saturday morning, this is where to head.
| Location | Address |
|---|---|
| Gateshead Park | 700 Gateshead Court |
| Catamaran Park | 511 Catamaran Street |
| Bowditch Middle School | 1450 Tarpon Street |
| Edgewater Park | 850 Edgewater Boulevard |
School courts such as Bowditch are usually available outside school hours, but access can change with the academic calendar, so treat them as a backup rather than a plan.
Belmont and San Mateo
Both cities have public provision, though less concentrated than Redwood City. Alexander Park at 411 Yorkshire Way in Belmont has public courts, and Los Prados at 1898 Bahia Street in San Mateo is the most commonly used public option in that part of the Peninsula.
For anyone based in Redwood Shores, the practical calculation is usually that Redwood City courts are closer than either, but these are useful alternatives at peak times. Both cities also sit within a short drive of the 101 corridor, which makes them realistic options on the way home from work rather than a special trip.
It is worth checking surface condition before committing to a regular slot. Public courts vary considerably: some are resurfaced on a sensible cycle, others have cracking or worn patches that make the bounce unpredictable near the baseline. A five-minute look before you book a lesson or arrange a match saves frustration.
When to go
Timing matters more than location on the Peninsula. The same court that is impossible at 10am on Saturday is empty on Tuesday afternoon, and knowing the rhythm saves a lot of wasted driving.
| Time | How busy | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday early morning | Quiet | The most reliable slot; often empty until 8am |
| Weekday midday | Quiet to moderate | Good for solo practice and wall work |
| Weekday after work | Busy | Lighted courts are the ones that stay usable |
| Saturday morning | Busiest | Expect to wait; have a second location in mind |
| Sunday afternoon | Moderate | Usually easier than Saturday |
In winter the daylight becomes the binding constraint rather than the crowds, which is when the lighted courts at Red Morton, Mezes and Andrew Spinas move from convenient to essential.
Public court etiquette
Public courts work on convention rather than rules, and the conventions are worth knowing because breaking them is the fastest way to have a bad time.
- Time limits. Where people are waiting, 30 to 60 minutes for singles and an hour or a set for doubles is the usual expectation.
- Waiting. Stand behind the fence, not on the court, and let people know you are next.
- Crossing. Never walk behind a court while a point is in play. Wait for the point to finish.
- Stray balls. Return them between points and call out if one rolls onto a neighbour’s court.
- Pickleball. Shared courts are increasingly common. Be reasonable about it in both directions.
Making the most of a public court
Free courts reward preparation. Turn up with a plan and you will get more from an hour than most people get from three.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| At least six balls | Chasing one ball wastes half your session |
| A hopper or basket | Makes solo serve practice viable |
| Cones or markers | Turns a rally into a targeted drill |
| Water | Very few public courts have fountains |
| A backup location | Peak-time courts fill fast at weekends |
If you cannot find a partner, a wall is the most productive alternative there is. These tennis backboard drills for solo practice give you a full session structure, and if there is no public wall convenient to you, here is how to build a tennis backboard at home.
Finding people to play with
The hardest part of playing tennis regularly is rarely the court, and the ways round it are set out in this guide to finding a tennis hitting partner. It is finding someone at a similar level who is free at the same time as you.
- Local leagues, which handle level matching for you.
- Club drop-in clinics, which double as a way to meet regular partners.
- Community boards and neighbourhood apps.
- Group clinics, which are also the cheapest coached option, as set out in this guide to what tennis lessons cost in the Bay Area.
If you would rather have structure than search for hitting partners, I coach at Bay Club Redwood Shores. Details are on the Bay Club Redwood Shores locations page, and a private lesson in Redwood Shores is the easiest way to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Are public tennis courts free on the Peninsula?
In Redwood City the public courts are free and open on a first come, first served basis seven days a week from dawn to dusk, with lighted courts available later into the evening. Policies vary by city, so check with the relevant parks department before travelling.
Which Peninsula courts have lights?
Red Morton Park, Mezes Park and Andrew Spinas Park in Redwood City all have lighted courts, with lights typically available until around 10pm. Lighting makes a real difference for anyone who can only play after work in winter.
Do you need to reserve a public tennis court?
Most Peninsula public courts are drop-in only rather than reservable. Redwood City operates its courts on a first come, first served basis; call the parks department on (650) 780-7311 for current information on availability.
What is the etiquette at a busy public court?
The usual convention is a 30 to 60 minute limit when others are waiting for singles, and a set or an hour for doubles. Wait behind the fence rather than walking across someone’s court, and retrieve balls between points rather than during them.
Where can you practise alone on the Peninsula?
Look for a backboard or a suitable practice wall. Wall practice gives you far more repetitions per hour than rallying, and it needs no partner and no booking.
Written by Claire Carter, a former WTA Tour professional and full-time teaching pro at Bay Club Redwood Shores, where she has coached juniors and adults for more than twelve years.
Image credits: Dz Anderson Video Editor (Pexels), Egor Komarov (Pexels), Frankie Lopez (Unsplash), Jonathan Cosens Photography (Unsplash), Mark Stebnicki (Pexels), Nenyasha Manzvera (Pexels), Omar Prestwich (Unsplash). Photographs are illustrative.