Grand Canal Court Courts to Reopen in November
The long-delayed Manhattan basketball court is expected to reopen at the end of November 2026 after four years of construction.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The MTA and parks department said the Grand Canal Court basketball court at Sixth Avenue will reopen at the end of November 2026. The court has been closed since 2022, when it was torn up so workers could build a substation that powers trains.
Why it matters
The reopening deadline follows missed completion targets, including the MTA's 2024 goal and an April 2026 date posted at the site. The project's budget has also risen sharply for New York City residents who rely on the court.
The project budget grew from $45 million in 2014 to $83.7 million, while the court has been under construction for four years. Officials have not confirmed whether the November deadline will be met, and none of the new amenities have been installed.
The players
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
The MTA is the public agency that operates New York City's subway and commuter rail system and is overseeing the substation project that displaced the court.
The details
Workers ripped up the courts in 2022 to build a new substation, and the MTA said in December 2022 that the project would be complete by the end of 2024. The refreshed court will feature new benches, a water fountain, upgraded lighting and fencing, though crews were still working in pits below the street shored up with timber.
Timeline
2014: Project budget set at $45 million.
2022: Courts ripped up for substation construction.
December 2022: MTA announced a completion target of the end of 2024.
April 2026: Signage's original completion date passed.
End of November 2026: Court expected to reopen.
Market Landscape
The project's budget growth from $45 million in 2014 to $83.7 million illustrates the cost overruns common in large New York City infrastructure work. The delays also reflect how utility upgrades for transit can reshape neighborhood amenities in Lower Manhattan.
Residents who use the court will have to wait until the end of November 2026 to play there again. The court's reopening will restore access to the amenities the community has been without since 2022.
The takeaway
Long-running infrastructure projects can grow in cost and time, so residents should monitor official MTA updates for confirmed reopening dates.
What happens next
The court is expected to reopen at the end of November 2026, with the project's completion depending on whether the deadline is met.
Further reading
Explore more on Openings & Closings for other New York City business and facility changes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gothamist.
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