Garfield Park Tennis Courts

The website is incorrect, there are 8 hard courts, not 4. The courts were resurfaced in 2011 and are in excellent condition, no cracks in the courts, nets are in great shape.
No windscreens in place but the courts are partially protected by large trees on the north side. They seem to be fairly busy on weekends, but I’ve been able to walk right on with no wait. Pretty empty in the evenings during the week, no lights, so you have to get your game in before it gets dark. The courts look great and are in great condition but they seem to be a bit «slow»…feels like the court mixture is a little on the soft side compared to most other hard courts I’ve played on. Not really a big deal, you just have to take a bit of time to get used to it.
The east side of the courts are along S. Shelby Street so be prepared for quite a bit of street noise. Also be prepared to share the water fountains with homeless guys who use the fountains to wash their dishes. The homeless guys seem pretty friendly but there are a couple that obviously have some issues… I haven’t felt worried or threatened at all, but I keep my eyes open.
I have a membership at IRC, but as long as the weather is nice, I plan to spend most of my playing time here since the court time is free and it’s only a short drive from downtown. Just be prepared to share the courts with players that are mostly beginners or very average… you *will* have to stop fairly often when they accidentally hit errant shots into your court.
Overall a pretty interesting place to play, the urban atmosphere is unique.