About ICPA


Mission Statement

The purpose of the Itasca County Pickleball Association (ICPA) is to promote the sport of pickleball in Grand Rapids and the greater Itasca County area, to facilitate the use of the pickleball courts and equipment, make rules and regulations for their optimum use and to foster goodwill, sportsmanship and fellowship among its members. 

We developed this website to give its members as well as visitors to the area information about where and when they can play pickleball.

Our Purpose

The purpose of the Itasca County Pickleball Association (ICPA) is to promote the sport of pickleball in Grand Rapids and the greater Itasca County area, to facilitate the use of the pickleball courts and equipment, make rules and regulations for their optimum use and to foster goodwill, sportsmanship and fellowship among its members.

We developed this website to give its members  as well as visitors to the area information about where and when they can play pickleball.

Our Accomplishments:
  • Formed a volunteer “Implementation Committee” to construct an outdoor court facility at the YMCA. This was a collaboration between the Itasca County Pickleball Association, City of Grand Rapids, Itasca County Family YMCA and the Grand Rapids Area Basketball Association. The new venue included 6 pickleball courts, a full size basketball court and four square courts. Our fundraising goal was completed with total donations and grants of $325,000.00. Groundbreaking occurred in October 2017 followed by a dedication and opening of the new courts in July 2018. 
  • Coordinated and scheduled outdoor pickleball at the Outdoor Courts (ODAC) located at the Itasca County Family YMCA . Indoor venues are at the YMCA and recently some local schools.
  • Organized and hosted the Lakes & Loons Pickleball Tournaments every year in September from 2016 through 2019. Covid-19 prevented us from having a tournament in 2020 and 2021.Players come from throughout Minnesota and numerous other states. This tournament is our primary fundraiser to support the ICPA activities. We have an annual financial obligation to the ODAC Maintenance fund, plus insurance, technology services and other expenses.  Additionally, we support beginner PB lessons, mid-level PB skills & drills and PB socials throughout the summer and fall season.
  • In the summer of 2021, the Implementation committee was reactivated to design, fund and build an additional 4 courts.  In early 2022, the committee directed and oversaw the construction of these additional courts which were subsequently completed, dedicated and opened on August 10 of that year. This was done concurrently, with the construction of an ice-skating venue, built and funded by the City of Grand Rapids and adjacent to the pickleball courts.  This entire venue, located on the Itasca County Family YMCA property, is comprised of 10 pickleball courts, a full -size basketball venue, 4 square courts and an ice-skating rink and is now known as the Outdoor Activity Center (ODAC).