In September 2023, Venus Williams headlined a splashy reopening of the tennis courts at St. Mary’s Park tennis courts, newly renovated by Lacoste and the City Parks Foundation. Framed by faux white picket fences, a local dance troupe, and corporate PR representatives, Williams waxed nostalgic at the time that “These courts are just like the ones I grew up on.”
But despite expectations that the courts would serve the South Bronx, residents looking to play there say the courts are usually locked during public hour. While efforts like free Saturday morning clinics offered by the City Parks Foundation aim to improve access, aspiring court users say they’re being shut out.
Yanira Velez, 43, works with a program that brings young people to the park on weekday afternoons. Velez recalled hoping to let the children she works with use the courts but being stymied by the locked gates.
“It’s unfortunate that the courts are closed because young people should be able to access them,” said Velez, while watching the children she works with play on the St. Mary’s basketball court.
While the tennis courts can be accessed by anyone requesting a parks department employee unlock them, this policy is not posted anywhere in the park or online, leading many residents to assume the courts are closed when locked. Potential users’ frustration is heightened by the fact parks employees are also not always nearby, especially on weekends and before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
During a municipal services committee meeting of Community Board 1 on September 9, committee Chair Ambroise Ngande said, “The tennis court at St. Mary’s is open to the public, right?” explaining that his uncertainty stemmed from the fact that the courts always appeared to be locked, except on weekend mornings when clinics were held.
According to the parks department, the courts have been locked since 2023 due to past issues with vandalism. While permits are generally required, park users without permits can request free play if it doesn’t conflict with permit holders and they bring their own tennis balls, rackets, and proper footwear.
Frustrations over this barrier to the courts are long-standing
In April 2023, Clarisa Alayeto, now the Bronx Community Board 1 chair, tweeted “Every weekend I come to St. Marys with my family to play tennis and we can’t access the courts. Operating hours are 6 AM – 9 PM. Why are the gates locked? These courts should be accessible to the community.”
In May 2023, Alayeto posted a TikTok showing her correspondence with parks department official Joe Ziegler, who wrote “The gates are opened daily since the recent request to allow public access was implemented.” Ziegler added that “There is a fixed post staff nearby to assist in any matter that may occur.”
In the intervening time, however, practice has not kept up with official policy. In September 2023, Alayeto tweeted frustration again at the gates being locked with no one to open them in sight.
On Sept. 10 the Mott Haven Herald confirmed that the courts were locked both at 9 a.m. when there were no visible parks staff around to unlock the courts and 3 p.m. when there were visible parks workers. The courts were again locked on the afternoon of Sept. 17th.
Bronxites understand that people misuse the courts
Bronx resident Daymont Small, 31, said the courts are locked during park hours for good reason.
“They’ve been locking them up because they’ve found people fighting in there, passed out in there, throwing bottles, that’s why the parks department rule exists,” said Small.
Velez also saw illegal activity taking place at the park, but said it was the city’s responsibility to make St. Mary’s safe enough for the courts to be left open.
“I have seen activity in the park that the police department should get involved with so the public can use the courts,” she said.
Ngande added that he does not support improper use of the courts but that he is concerned about insufficient outreach to young people in the neighborhood.
“You always look at [tennis] from a distance until you have a racket in your hands,” he said.
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