Middletown Pickleball Association is organized exclusively for fostering and promoting amateur athletics within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now enacted or hereafter amended. To this end, the MPA shall promote the development of pickleball as a means of sportsmanship, physical fitness and healthful recreation; foster and promote regional amateur sports competition in pickleball; teach and maintain the official rules of pickleball play; encourage, sanction and conduct pickleball tournaments and exhibitions; promote, sponsor and advertise pickleball to the general public to accomplish these objectives; and carry on other similar activities permitted by such a non profit corporation.

How we began

In May of 2005 Stanley and Marcia Volkens drove around Middletown and counted sixteen tennis courts in public parks and not one person was playing tennis. Stanley called the park board and asked if we could take an old tennis court and change it over to a pickleball court.

"They had never heard of pickleball. We played that summer at Gardner Park and the next year, 2006, we played at Lefferson Park and had our first tournament. In 2007 we changed two tennis courts to six permanent pickleball courts and had our first USAPA sanctioned tournament. We have had over 100 players the last several years with players from over 10 states. We probably had the first USAPA sanctioned tournament in Ohio and I consider Middletown to be the Pickleball Capital of Ohio".     Stanley

We have an annual tournament the first Friday and Saturday in August. The tournament is to promote the sport of pickleball and to raise funds which are used to develop and maintain our courts.

The courts were built entirely by our members with proceeds from our tournament and donated funds.  In 2015 we added an additional four courts to bring our total to 10.  In 2018 we were able to add an additional 6 courts increasing the total to 16 and in 2020 we converted the 4 middle courts to 6 and now have a total of 18!   We are very proud of our accomplishment and want to share the courts with all.

In the fall and winter of 2016 we became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.