The city maintains 180 outdoor hard courts that have a 1-hour limit and accommodate patrons on a first-come, first-served basis from 8am until dusk. Local courtesy dictates that if people are waiting, you surrender the court on the hour. (Heavy usage times are evenings and weekends.) With the exception of the Beach Avenue courts, which charge a nominal fee, all city courts are free.

Stanley Park has four courts near Lost Lagoon and 17 courts near the Beach Avenue entrance, next to the Fish House Restaurant. Queen Elizabeth Park's 18 courts service the central Vancouver area, and Kitsilano Beach Park's 10 courts service the beach area between Vanier Park and the UBC campus.

You can play at night at the Langara Campus of Vancouver Community College, on W. 49th Avenue between Main and Cambie streets. The UBC Coast Club, on Thunderbird Boulevard (tel. 604/822-2505), has 10 outdoor and four indoor courts. Indoor courts are C$12 (US$9) per hour, plus C$3 (US$2.25) per person; outdoor courts are C$3 (US$2.25) per person.

Bayshore Bicycle and Rollerblade Rentals, 745 Denman St. (tel. 604/688-2453), rents tennis rackets for C$10 (US$7.50) per day.