OANA’s Support for the Astoria Park Tennis Proposal Is Conditional

While the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association is supporting Community Board 1’s conditional approval of the tennis enclosure, we feel it is important that everybody be aware of what those conditions are — and you will see that they reflect almost all of the issues being raised by opponents of the enclosure.
In its April 23, 2026 letter to NYC Parks, the Community Board asked that:

• No more than eight to ten of the fourteen courts be enclosed
• The remaining courts stay at standard City permit rates, not under the operator’s control
• Weekly days and times be set aside for free or reduced-rate public play
• The structure be strictly seasonal, with no year-round installation
• The contract mandate termination if the seasonal requirement is circumvented
• The Board review the contract before it is signed
• Noise be monitored and not exceed 85 decibels
• Power come from the electrical grid, not generators
• Restroom access be resolved for winter operation
• All fourteen courts be resurfaced on a regular schedule, not only the enclosed ones, and any lighting be designed so as not to negatively impact the surrounding community (while not part of the Board’s ask, new lighting on all fourteen courts should be included if needed)
• The facility and surrounding area be kept clean and maintained
• The proposal include food and beverage service
• Local hiring be prioritized
• The operation not create an undue burden for nearby residents
• The Board also identified damage to the park’s trees as a serious concern.

NYC Parks has not yet presented a contract with a selected operator. When it does, OANA will review it against every one of these conditions. Our support was extended on this basis and no other: if the final agreement does not meet these conditions, OANA will reassess our support.

Read the Community Board’s April 23rd, 2026 advisory statement here.