Upper East Side Squash Court Rentals at 412 Squash on East 90th

Non-members can book six court rentals per calendar year at 412 Squash, each one 45 minutes on one of nine courts for $36, and every booking has to go through the 412 Squash Association app because the center at 412 East 90th Street does not accept walk-ins. For an Upper East Side resident whose search for a squash court near me keeps landing on members-only clubs, that small allowance is the most realistic way to try this school-run facility before committing.

The center is mid-block on East 90th Street between First and York Avenues and is run under the umbrella of an educational institution, the Spence School, and the center describes its programs as building leadership and collaboration alongside technique. It opened in November 2021 with an exhibition by the Egyptian-American professionals Amanda and Sabrina Sobhy, and its nine courts make it one of the larger squash floors in Manhattan.

That school connection explains the calendar. The center follows academic breaks, and in 2026 it is closed for fall break from October 10 to 12, on November 1 for the New York City Marathon, from November 25 to 29 for Thanksgiving and from December 21 through January 3. Plan your six non-member visits around those dates rather than discovering a locked door.

The rental policy, last revised June 30, 2026, is strict. Non-members must download the app, create a profile and sign a liability waiver before arriving. There are no walk-ins, and you cannot book a court in person at the desk. A maximum of three players may share a court, players under 16 need an accompanying adult, and you must leave the court when your 45 minutes end.

Two rules surprise visitors from gym squash. First, no balls or loaner equipment are provided for court rentals, so bring your own racquet, ball and goggles. Second, outside coaches may not give private lessons on the premises, and personal ball machines are banned. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead to receive club credit; later cancellations forfeit the fee.

Members pay $24 for a 45-minute rental and $0 to play with another member. Non-members pay $36 for the same slot. A member can bring up to two non-member guests at $10 each, and adult, youth and Morning Court memberships include one free guest per month, while a family membership includes two. Guest passes expire monthly and do not roll over.

Membership rates for July 2026 to June 2027 start at $70 a month for youth, $80 for adults and $225 for families. The math is simple: an adult who plays more than twice a month spends less as a member than as a guest, and membership is required for weekly clinics and lessons anyway, apart from a single trial session.

Fall 2026 adult clinics run on Tuesdays from 6:45pm to 7:30pm, with eight sessions spread across September and October, the last on October 27. Level 1, Learn to Play, assumes no experience and no equipment; by the end, students should be able to rally with a coach. Level 2, Squash Essentials, covers new shots and strategy for players with some experience, and Level 3 focuses on consistency and match play.

The center also offers Game Play Analysis, where you play matches while a coach gives real-time feedback, plus adult round robins on set days. Non-members may take one trial lesson or clinic before purchasing a membership, which makes a Level 1 session a smart first visit: you get coaching and court time without burning one of your six rentals.

Regular hours run from September 7 to December 20: Monday through Friday from 7am to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Rentals are only available when a court monitor is on site, and junior programs dominate weekday afternoons, so adults have the best luck early in the morning or after 7:30pm on weeknights.

Our candid advice: skip weekend afternoons if you are using a non-member rental. Courts close at 4pm, junior squads use the morning, and the window is short. A Thursday 8pm slot gives you a quieter building and time for a proper warmup.

The center is a few blocks from Carl Schurz Park on East End Avenue, where the promenade runs above the East River and Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence, sits at the park's northern end. Second Avenue between 86th and 90th Streets is lined with neighborhood bars and restaurants, and the Q train's 86th Street station opened there in 2017, making the trip from Midtown faster than it used to be.

If you have used your six rentals for the year, Harlem Squash Club at 41 West 115th Street rents courts for $22.50 per 45 minutes with no annual cap, and Open Squash in Midtown and the Financial District offers free intro clinics plus off-peak rentals for non-members.

Because the center belongs to a school, juniors are the core of the program. The fall calendar lists competitive tournament-prep squads, academy groups and recreational junior programs for younger beginners, which is why weekday afternoons are blocked for kids. Adults fill the early mornings, the Tuesday evening clinics and the round robins, and the center's coaches are listed by name on its team page.

Non-marking, athletic-soled shoes and athletic attire are required on court. The center publishes its own shoe guidance and a ball chart on its website, helpful for beginners choosing between the slower double-yellow-dot ball used by advanced players and the bouncier balls recommended for learners. Players who are still deciding on equipment can read the guide before buying a first racquet.

Address: 412 East 90th Street, New York, NY 10128, mid-block between First and York Avenues. Booking: 412 Squash Association app only, no walk-ins. Transit: 86th Street on the 4, 5 and 6 at Lexington Avenue; 86th Street or 96th Street on the Q at Second Avenue; the M15 bus at 89th Street and First Avenue. Bring your own racquet, ball and goggles.