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Maggie Daley Park Tennis Courts Are Open And Free, Again

 Two men playing tennis last year at Maggie Daley Park's courts.
Two men playing tennis last year at Maggie Daley Park's courts.
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DNAinfo/David Matthews

DOWNTOWN — Maggie Daley Park's tennis courts are free again after neighbors pressured parks officials to drop a pay-to-play plan. 

The six courts opened last week at the northeast corner of the Downtown park, 337 E. Randolph St. And walkups will remain free after the Chicago Park District last month proposed new hourly charges of up to $20, said Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, a park district spokeswoman. 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), whose ward includes the park, told constituents in an email that he negotiated the removal of the new fees after hearing "significant negative feedback" from Chicagoans. Maggie Daley Park would have been the only park in the city to charge hourly rates for pickup tennis, according to the New Eastside Association of Residents, a Downtown neighborhood group. 

The tennis courts are now open, weather permitting, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Pickup tennis remains free, but reserving a court will cost $15 to $20 depending on the time of day. 

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