Atlanta maintains one of the most extensive public tennis court networks of any major US city, with 108 public courts spread across 45 parks managed by the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation. This infrastructure supports the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), the nation’s largest recreational tennis league with over 60,000 members, which organizes seasonal league play for adults across hundreds of court facilities throughout the metro area. The city’s warm climate extends outdoor court availability to nearly year-round play, and indoor court facilities provide alternatives during Atlanta’s occasional winter cold snaps and summer afternoon thunderstorm windows. Court reservation systems through the iParcs platform allow advance booking at priority rates while first-come, first-served access remains available free of charge at most park locations.
When using Atlanta tennis courts, understand the reservation system before arriving to avoid peak-time conflicts at popular facilities. Prime time court reservations through the city’s iParcs system cost $5 to $5.50 per court per hour, while non-prime time runs $3 to $3.50. Private racquet clubs provide guaranteed court access as part of membership but require initiation fees and monthly dues that are substantially higher than public court rates. For ALTA league team home matches, courts must be reserved in advance through the specific facility hosting the match, and team captains coordinate these bookings through their respective club administrators.
Top Tennis Court Companies in Atlanta
1. Bitsy Grant Tennis Center
Address: 2125 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 205-5352
Website: https://www.bitsygranttenniscenter.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Services:
- 13 clay courts
- 10 hard courts
- Court reservations
- Tennis instruction and clinics
- ALTA and USTA league support
About: Bitsy Grant Tennis Center is Atlanta’s most historic and largest public tennis facility, built in 1952 and named for Atlantan and International Tennis Hall of Famer Bitsy Grant. The center’s 23 courts, split between clay and hard surfaces, have hosted legendary players including Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors across its seven decades of operation. Managed by Agape Tennis Academy on behalf of the City of Atlanta, the facility is located in South Buckhead’s Northside Drive corridor and serves as one of the primary ALTA league hosting venues in the city. The combination of clay and hard courts makes Bitsy Grant one of the few public Atlanta facilities where players can develop skills on both surfaces.
2. Piedmont Park Tennis Center (Sharon Lester Racquet Center)
Address: 1320 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306
Phone: (404) 205-5844
Services:
- Multiple hard courts
- Court reservations
- Instruction and clinics through Agape Tennis Academy
- Central Intown Atlanta location
About: The Sharon Lester Racquet Center at Piedmont Park provides tennis access within Atlanta’s most centrally located and heavily visited urban park, serving the dense Intown residential population of Midtown, Virginia Highland, and surrounding neighborhoods. The courts are managed by Agape Tennis Academy as part of the City of Atlanta’s five-facility public racquet center network. The Piedmont Park location makes this facility uniquely accessible to Atlanta’s large urban professional population who live and work within walking or cycling distance of the park. Court reservation is available through the city’s iParcs system with first-come, first-served availability for unclaimed courts.
3. Universal Tennis Academy (UTA) – Multiple Locations
Address: 3501 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30319 (Blackburn Tennis Center)
Phone: (770) 451-5226
Website: https://www.utatennis.com
Service Area: 14+ locations across Atlanta metro, 130+ courts total
Services:
- Hard and clay court access
- Indoor courts (4 indoor courts across network)
- Court reservations
- Lessons and clinics
- ALTA league home match hosting
About: Universal Tennis Academy manages the largest tennis court network in the Atlanta metro area, operating over 130 courts across 14 locations in both public and private facilities. The Blackburn Tennis Center location in Brookhaven is one of the primary UTA hubs, serving the northeast Atlanta corridor with a mix of hard and clay surfaces. UTA’s court access is bundled with instruction and league programming at most locations, making it the most comprehensive option for players seeking courts alongside organized play opportunities. The organization’s 25-year history in Atlanta and its management of both public and private facilities gives members broad geographic access throughout the metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I reserve a tennis court at Atlanta’s public facilities?
A: City of Atlanta public courts can be reserved through the iParcs online reservation system or by calling the specific facility’s pro shop. Prime time reservations cost $5 to $5.50 per court per hour and non-prime time costs $3 to $3.50. Courts not reserved in advance are available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. The iParcs system allows reservations to be made up to one week in advance, and popular facilities like Bitsy Grant fill up quickly for weekend prime time slots, so booking early is advisable.
Q: What type of court surface is most common at Atlanta tennis facilities?
A: Hard courts are the most common surface at Atlanta public tennis facilities, as they require less maintenance than clay and can be used year-round in Atlanta’s climate. Clay courts are available at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center and some private clubs, and provide a different playing experience that many players prefer for its reduced impact on joints and slower pace that rewards longer baseline rallies. Indoor courts are available through Universal Tennis Academy at several locations and become particularly valuable during winter months and summer afternoon thunderstorm windows.
Q: Can I play ALTA league matches at Atlanta public courts?
A: Yes, ALTA leagues host matches at many City of Atlanta public facilities including Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, Piedmont Park, and other racquet centers across the city. Home team captains are responsible for reserving courts through the facility for each scheduled match, and rates are typically the standard reservation fees unless the club has negotiated specific ALTA terms. Visiting players should confirm court addresses and specific court numbers with their captain before each match, as large facilities like Bitsy Grant have multiple courts spread across a substantial property.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s public tennis court infrastructure is among the most extensive in the nation, supported by a strong ALTA league culture and year-round playing conditions that keep courts active across all seasons. Bitsy Grant Tennis Center stands as the premier public tennis destination with 23 courts, historic significance, and both clay and hard surface options in South Buckhead. Piedmont Park’s Sharon Lester Racquet Center delivers convenient Intown Atlanta court access within the city’s most beloved park. Universal Tennis Academy’s 14-location network of 130-plus courts offers the broadest geographic access to quality courts across the entire metro area. Contact each facility directly to check availability and make court reservations.