The public courts I send people to when they want to play with the water in view, from the clay on Davis Islands to the Gulf-side courts on the beaches.
CW
Clayton WalkerFounder|February 15, 2026|10 min read
The short version
If you want to play on the water, my shortlist is the clay courts at the Sandra W. Freedman complex on Davis Islands, North Shore Park and Coquina Key on the St. Pete bayfront, and Clearwater Beach and Sand Key on the Gulf. Most are free and lit; Freedman charges a few dollars a player for clay. Every court below is on the map.
Living here, you get a little spoiled. We have public courts where you can play a set and watch sailboats drift across the bay, courts a block off the Gulf, and clay courts under live oaks on an island. When friends move to the area and ask me where to play, the water courts are always the first ones I bring up. So here is my list, court by court, with the stuff that actually matters before you go: what it costs, where to park, whether the lights work, and what each one is really like.
A couple of things up front. Most of these are free, first-come public courts, so all you need to bring is a can of balls. The one paid exception is the clay on Davis Islands, which charges a few dollars a player and is worth it. And "on the water" means different things here: the bay in St. Pete, the Hillsborough River downtown, the intracoastal and the Gulf out on the beaches. I have grouped them by area so you can find the closest one.
Tampa
Sandra W. Freedman Tennis Complex (Davis Islands)
Clay (Har-Tru) · 8 courts · Lit · ~$5–6.45/player
This is the one I send people to when they want to feel like they are playing somewhere special. Eight clay courts on Davis Islands, sitting right up against the Marjorie Park Yacht Basin, with sailboats in the background and a breeze coming off the water. The clay plays slow and soft, which is easy on the knees and a different game than the hard courts most of us grew up on. The courts are lit, so you can play into the evening.
It is run by the City of Tampa and it is the one paid court on this list. As of early 2026 the fee is per player, roughly $6.45 for an adult at prime time and a little over $5 off-peak, with cheaper rates for juniors and for players 55 and up, plus a small once-a-year registration. Prime time is mid-morning and after 4pm on weekdays.
Call the pro shop at (813) 259-1664 to reserve a court, which I would do on weekends. Parking is free, there are restrooms, and there is a practice wall if you want to warm up or get a solo hit in. Open weekdays 8am to 9pm, weekends 8am to 6pm. Full details on the Freedman complex page, and the city's tennis page has the current rate card.
The Freedman clay courts wrap around the old Spanish-style clubhouse on Davis Islands, right on the Marjorie Park Yacht Basin.
Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park
Hard · 6 courts · Lit · Free
Six lit hard courts right on the Hillsborough River, looking straight across the water at the downtown skyline. The whole park was rebuilt a few years back and it shows: the courts are clean, the surface is true, and there is a constant, low-key buzz of rowers, paddleboarders, and water taxis sliding past while you play. It is free and open from 7am to 10pm, with free parking and restrooms on site. If you want the most scenic free hard courts in the city of Tampa, this is it. See the , part of the .
Are there public tennis courts on the water in Tampa Bay?
Yes, plenty. The standouts are the Sandra W. Freedman clay courts on Davis Islands in Tampa, North Shore Park and Coquina Key Park on the St. Petersburg bayfront, and Clearwater Beach and Bay Park on Sand Key along the Gulf. Most are free, public, and lit.
How much do the clay courts at Davis Islands cost?
The Sandra W. Freedman Tennis Complex is run by the City of Tampa and charges per player. As of early 2026 that is roughly $6.45 for an adult at prime time and $5.38 off-peak, with lower rates for juniors and players 55 and up, plus a small annual registration. Call (813) 259-1664 to reserve. Always worth confirming the current rate with the city.
Which waterfront courts are free?
Almost all of them. North Shore, Coquina Key, Julian B. Lane, Clearwater Beach, Bay Park on Sand Key, R.O.C. Park, Kolb Park, Belleair Beach, Vina Del Mar, Siesta Key, Craig Park, and Bay View Park are all free to walk on. The clay at Freedman is the main paid exception. At North Shore you can also reserve a court for about $10 an hour if you want a guaranteed time.
Which courts have lights for night play?
North Shore, Coquina Key, Freedman, Julian B. Lane, Clearwater Beach, R.O.C. Park, Kolb Park, Belleair Beach, Vina Del Mar, Siesta Key, and Craig Park all have lights. Bay Park on Sand Key and Bay View Park in South Pasadena do not, so play those in daylight.
Where can I see all of these courts at once?
Every court here has a page on the TB Let's Play court map, where you can check surface, lights, parking, hours, and directions, and find others near you.
CW
Clayton Walker
Founder
Founder of TB Let's Play and lifelong tennis player. Building the community resource Tampa Bay deserves for finding courts, connecting with players, and making the most of our region's incredible tennis and pickleball scene.
Find these courts on the map
See locations, lights, surfaces, and amenities for every court in this guide.
St. Pete is the heart of waterfront tennis around here. Two parks sit right on the bay and a third looks out over Boca Ciega. All three are in the St. Petersburg directory.
North Shore Park
Hard · 4 courts · Lit · Free (or ~$10/hr to reserve)
If I had to pick one waterfront court in the whole region, it is North Shore. Four lit hard courts on the downtown St. Pete bayfront, a short walk from the Pier, with open water on one side and the North Shore green space and palms all around. You can play for free if you just walk on, or reserve a court through the city for about $10 an hour if you want a locked-in time, which is handy on busy evenings. The courts run from about half an hour before sunrise until 11pm, so early mornings and night sessions are both on the table. The morning crowd here is friendly and regular.
One thing worth clearing up: this is the public North Shore Park, not the private Vinoy Resort clay courts a few blocks south. Those are members and resort guests only. The park courts are for everyone. Open the North Shore Park page.
North Shore Park on the St. Petersburg bayfront, a short walk from the St. Pete Pier.
Coquina Key Park
Hard · 4 courts · Lit · Free
Coquina Key is the quiet one, and I love it for that. Four lit hard courts on a little key with water on three sides and a long view back across Big Bayou toward the skyline. It is calmer than North Shore, with herons picking around the shoreline and a breeze most of the day. There are pickleball courts here too, so the tennis courts mostly stay with the tennis players. Free, with free parking and restrooms, open roughly 7am to dusk. See the Coquina Key page.
Coquina Key Park sits on a key with water on three sides, looking back toward the downtown St. Petersburg skyline.
Maynard A. Duryea Bay View Park
2 courts · No lights · Free
Two courts in South Pasadena right on Boca Ciega Bay. There are no lights, so this is a morning-or-daytime spot, and heads up that the park has had some construction that can mess with parking, so check before you make the drive. But it is free, quiet, and the bay view from the south side is the payoff. Find it on the Bay View Park page.
The beaches
For salt air and a Gulf or intracoastal view, the barrier islands deliver. These run from Clearwater down through the Pinellas beaches, split across the Clearwater and St. Petersburg directories.
Clearwater Beach Tennis Courts
Hard · 3 courts · Lit · Free (paid parking)
Three lit hard courts on the Mandalay Channel at the quieter north end of Clearwater Beach, maintained by the City of Clearwater. You play right along the intracoastal with boats and kayakers going by, and the Gulf is two blocks away. The one catch is parking: this is Clearwater Beach, so the lot by the courts is paid, not free. Budget for it or get there early. The courts themselves are free and open sunrise to sunset, with restrooms nearby. See the Clearwater Beach page.
Clearwater Beach's courts sit right on the Mandalay Channel, boats drifting by and the Gulf just a couple of blocks away.
Bay Park on Sand Key
Hard · 2 courts · No lights · Free
Two hard courts on the bay side of Sand Key, and my pick when I want a beach day and a hit without the Clearwater Beach hassle. No lights, but the trade-offs are good ones: free parking, public beach access steps away, and restrooms. It stays pretty quiet because most people do not know it is there. Open daily 7am to sunset. Bring water and play in the morning. See the Bay Park page.
R.O.C. Park (Madeira Beach)
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free
Two lit hard courts at the Recreation of Madeira Beach park, a short hop from John's Pass. It is a real community park, with a dog park, ball fields, a splash pad, and fishing, so it has a fun, busy energy on weekends. Parking is on site with overflow at the nearby supermarket if it fills up. Free, open sunrise to sunset. Open the R.O.C. Park page.
Kolb Park (Indian Rocks Beach)
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free
Two lit hard courts in the middle of Indian Rocks Beach, walkable from the Gulf. One thing to know: the two tennis courts can convert into four pickleball courts with portable nets, so on a busy day you may be sharing lines or waiting your turn. Still a friendly, easy neighborhood spot with free parking and restrooms. Find it on the Kolb Park page.
Belleair Beach Tennis Courts
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free
Two lit hard courts near the Gulf in Belleair Beach, and the long hours are the headline: 6am to 11pm. Free, with free parking and restrooms. A low-key, well-kept option if you are staying or living on that stretch. See the Belleair Beach page.
Vina Del Mar Park (St. Pete Beach)
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free
Two lit hard courts on the island in St. Pete Beach. Like Kolb, it shares space with pickleball, three courts of it, so expect company at peak times. Free, with free parking and restrooms, open sunrise to sunset. If it is busy, Egan Park is the nearby backup. See the Vina Del Mar page.
Worth the drive
Siesta Key Beach Tennis Courts
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free
Two lit hard courts by the famous white sand of Siesta Key, at the southern edge of the region in the Sarasota and Bradenton directory. It is a drive from most of Tampa Bay, but if you are already heading down for the beach, the courts are clean and lit and steps from some of the best sand in the country. There are six pickleball courts here too, so weekends get busy. Free, with free parking and restrooms.
Craig Park (Tarpon Springs)
Hard · 2 courts · Lit · Free · Hitting wall
Up north, Craig Park sits right on Spring Bayou in old Tarpon Springs, under big oaks a short walk from the Sponge Docks. Two courts plus a dedicated hitting wall, which I always appreciate when I want to get a solo session in. It is one of the prettiest settings on this whole list, and it is free, lit, and open sunrise to sunset with parking and restrooms. Make a morning of it and grab Greek food after. See the Craig Park page.
Craig Park's courts sit right on Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, ringed by old moss-draped oaks.
Quick comparison
Court
Area
Surface
Lights
Cost
Parking
Sandra W. Freedman
Davis Islands, Tampa
Clay
Yes
~$5–6.45/player
Free
Julian B. Lane
Tampa (river)
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
North Shore Park
St. Petersburg
Hard
Yes
Free (or ~$10/hr to reserve)
Lot
Coquina Key Park
St. Petersburg
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Bay View (Duryea)
South Pasadena
Hard
No
Free
Free
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach
Hard
Yes
Free court
Paid lot
Bay Park
Sand Key
Hard
No
Free
Free
R.O.C. Park
Madeira Beach
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Kolb Park
Indian Rocks Beach
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Belleair Beach
Belleair Beach
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Vina Del Mar
St. Pete Beach
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Siesta Key
Siesta Key
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Craig Park
Tarpon Springs
Hard
Yes
Free
Free
Sandra W. Freedman
Area
Davis Islands, Tampa
Surface
Clay
Lights
Yes
Cost
~$5–6.45/player
Parking
Free
Julian B. Lane
Area
Tampa (river)
Surface
Hard
Lights
Yes
Cost
Free
Parking
Free
North Shore Park
Area
St. Petersburg
Surface
Hard
Lights
Yes
Cost
Free (or ~$10/hr to reserve)
Parking
Lot
Coquina Key Park
Tip
On the water, wind is part of the game. Mornings are usually calmer and the afternoon sea breeze can push a high ball around, so I lean toward early sessions or playing under the lights once the heat and the wind drop. North Shore, Coquina Key, and Clearwater Beach are all great after dark.
The Freedman clay courts wrap around the old Spanish-style clubhouse on Davis Islands, right on the Marjorie Park Yacht Basin.
North Shore Park on the St. Petersburg bayfront, a short walk from the St. Pete Pier.
Coquina Key Park sits on a key with water on three sides, looking back toward the downtown St. Petersburg skyline.
Clearwater Beach's courts sit right on the Mandalay Channel, boats drifting by and the Gulf just a couple of blocks away.
Craig Park's courts sit right on Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, ringed by old moss-draped oaks.
