Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center

The Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center sits at 900 Cedar Boulevard in Pittsburgh's Mt. Lebanon suburb. Starting from a single public court, it grew to 15 Har-Tru clay courts. The facility has won the USTA Outstanding Facilities Award twice and holds designation as a USTA Premier Tennis Provider in the Middle States region.

Mt. Lebanon is an affluent South Hills suburb with well-kept parks. The tennis center sits inside Mt. Lebanon Park, and a multipurpose building overlooks the courts. Locals jog, picnic, and play tennis there. Drive up Cedar Boulevard and you will see players of all ages on the green clay. The center has hosted tournaments from the 1960s West Penn Amateur Championships through USTA Pro Circuit events.

Residents come from nearby neighborhoods like Upper St. Clair or Scott Township, or bike over on the park paths. Public transit is limited; the light rail stops a mile away at the Mt. Lebanon station, but most visitors arrive by car via Route 88 or Park Boulevard.

Har-Tru is crushed metabasalt from Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The surface allows slide and spin and is easier on the joints than hard courts. In fall, six courts go under heated domes put up by high school teams, extending play through mid-April.

Walk-ons are free on the nearby hard courts, but the Har-Tru courts require booking through the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, typically via the pro shop in the Racket Center. Court time runs $10-20 per hour during peak season. Kids' beginner programs start around $100 for multi-week sessions; adult group drills run by head pro Hank Hughes, a USTA-certified former Pro of the Year, are priced similarly. Casual hits do not require a reservation. Clay plays slower than hard courts, so beginners may want a lesson from Hughes' team first.

The lot off Cedar Boulevard has ample parking but fills during leagues and summer clinics, so arriving early helps. Paths are well lit and park rangers patrol after dusk. Pittsburgh springs can vary, so bring layers. Rain drains quickly on the permeable Har-Tru base, and the domes keep indoor play running when weather turns.

After a match, Grindle's Coffee Bar a half-mile north has coffee and pastries. Chickie's & Pete's nearby serves crab fries, and Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh is about 10 minutes away.

Finding the right opponent can be the hard part. Doyouplay connects players in the area. Browse free by skill level, age, or play style, scan active Mt. Lebanon profiles, and use one-on-one chat to confirm details before you meet. The community includes both longtime locals and recent arrivals.

Doyouplay charges no dues. Verified players post open slots at the Tennis Center, making it straightforward to find court time whether you are new to the South Hills or returning after a break.

From Martin Tressel's "Mr. Tennis" promotions in the 1960s to the platform tennis courts next door, where players use paddles on small courts behind chicken-wire screens, the center has kept Pittsburgh playing on clay. The people who funded the first bubbles in '67 built something that lasted. Stop by 900 Cedar Boulevard and get on a court.