The William E. Carter Playground Tennis Courts at Northeastern University’s Boston campus are located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Camden Street.
The William E. Carter Playground tennis courts at Northeastern University’s Boston campus, located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Camden Street. There are five well-maintained hard courts, with lighting available into the evening, abutting the Carter Playground.
The courts are open to the public, but often experience wait times that range from 30 minutes to more than an hour. There is no way to reserve a court, so players should arrive early to avoid excessive wait times.
Play time is limited to one hour, per Boston Park and Recreation rules. Those waiting for a court typically congregate around the benches between courts, and players just arriving should check in with other parties before taking a court.
Of the five courts available, three are used exclusively by Northeastern’s Recreation and Club programs beginning at 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. On Saturdays, Northeastern has those three courts from 1 to 5 p.m. On Sundays, all five courts are open to the public, provided they are not booked for other events and programs through the City of Boston.
The two courts not used by Northeastern are those nearest to the train tracks along Southwest Corridor Park. Players are encouraged to check the Boston Parks and Recreation website for any updates affecting the availability and use of the courts.
A public schedule is posted on the chain-link fence with the latest information pertaining to use of the courts.