This is some racket!
Brazen hustlers are gaming the sign-up sheets at the public Washington Market Park tennis court on Chambers Street in Tribeca – and then illegally selling the court time.
Two current listings on Craigslist boast about the pay-to-play scheme, which is considered unlawful vending by the city.
“Looking to secure court time at the exclusive outdoor hardcourt in Tribeca? Look no further as I’m happy to be of assistance. Just let me know what time on the day!” a May 6 listing promises. The racketeer is asking $25 for an hour.
A May 8 Craigslist post reads, “Want to play tennis, but cannot get a court? Don’t want to wait hours at the Hudson River Park courts? Come play at the Washington Market Park Court located in Tribeca. Rated by Curbed as one of the best tennis courts in NYC. No wait. I can secure court time for you for a very affordable fee. Just show up and play. Tennis lessons available as well.”
The serves are out of bounds, according to the city Parks Department.
An NYC Parks tennis permit is required to use the sign-up sheet and play on the Washington Market Park tennis courts, the agency said. However, the Parks Department does not issue permits for tennis instruction at the Tribeca site, department spokesman Dan Kastanis said.
Specific timeslots for the court are first-come first-served, made available through the sign-up sheet put up in the park in the morning, according to the department’s rules. The daily sign-up sheet is supposed to posted by 7 a.m., but players gripe that the paper list — which is supposed to be monitored by Parks staff — is often filled by 6:30 a.m. or by the time the list goes up.
The lit, hard-court surface is open for play from 7 a.m. until midnight daily from April until November.
Players have complained for years about tennis pros gobbling up the slots and giving lessons, according to the Tribeca Citizen, which first reported the story.
On Thursday, a Post photographer and reporter observed the sheet just about filled at 7 a.m. and one person appeared to have signed up multiple individuals. None of the hour-long slots included full names.
“The biggest problem is that the Parks Department cannot agree to one specific time and pass it along to the park attendants,” said . “I guess when the park attendants come there, they put up the sheet regardless of what time it is.”
John Jones, an 84-year-old Tribeca resident and court fixture, said he books one slot for himself a day and is unaware of the Craigslist maneuvers. “I live next to the park and I get there early before the sign-up sheets go up,” he said.
Ana Canahuate, 25, also scored a precious Thursday slot. “If they could modernize this process it would work a lot more smoothly. Honestly it’s just a lot of people taking advantage,” she said. “I’m a tennis player, I’ve played tennis my entire life, I know what it is to get up early and get here on time, but there are people who get agitated when they don’t get their time…The energy here is really heavy.”
Canahuate “in most cases is always the the first one there,” Jones said, adding that a Parks person told him after the Post’s visit that they “will be watching the sign-up procedure more closely.”
“This matter is under investigation,” Kastanis said.
Parks did not immediately say if there are penalties for selling court time.
