NYC Gets Its First Outdoor Public Squash Court

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — The city's very first outdoor public squash court opened Tuesday, offering free squash to park-goers on the Lower East Side.

The new squash court is now open at Hamilton Fish Park, near East Houston and Pitt streets. The court comes to the neighborhood thanks to Public Squash, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access and awareness about the sport.

"Bringing squash outside, and making it free to the public, is the best way to give access to all, and increase the visibility of the game," Ryan Wall, the director of Public Squash, said in a statement.

According to Public Squash, the court at Hamilton Fish Park is the first outdoor public squash court in the world. Most squash courts in New York City are only accessible via gym memberships or a court rental fee.

The outdoor court has glass walls, an elastic floor and no roof, according to the city. It was installed on one of the four handball courts at the park.

Although you will need your own squash supplies to play on the court, kids from the Hamilton Fish Recreation Center can sign up for free squash clinics, which will include donated equipment from Dunlop.

The squash court will stay on the Lower East Side through October 2018 as part of the city's Adopt-a-Park program. Public Squash funded the court's installation.

Image credit: Courtesy NYC Parks