The Charleston Police Academy Pickleball Tournament comes to the Nitro Athletic Complex on November 7 and 8, 2026, with a community night the evening of November 6. The event raises money for Charleston Police Department youth programs, including Safety City, the Junior Leadership Academy and the Wonderland Toy Drive. Registration costs $45 and is open to players 16 and older. Gender doubles play on Saturday, with mixed doubles on Sunday. Sign up through PickleballTournaments.com or the tournament's Facebook page. Source: WCHS-TV and WOWK-TV, checked October 29, 2026.
Where the tournament is played
Nitro Athletic Complex sits at 1650 Park Avenue in Nitro, about 10 miles west of downtown Charleston in the Kanawha Valley. The city of Nitro's own facility page lists 17 total pickleball courts, nine of them under roof for year-round play, with court hours Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Play runs on a day pass or an annual membership starting at $200 for one person. A $1.15 million state water development grant is now funding a dome over the outdoor courts so the complex can host regional tournaments through the winter. The complex opened in May 2025 as, in Mayor Dave Casebolt's words, the state's largest pickleball facility. Source: cityofnitro.org and WCHS-TV, checked October 29, 2026.
Other places to play in the Charleston area
Charleston itself carries five active pickleball venues in our directory. Coonskin Park has 6 free outdoor courts; bring your own net. The Charleston Tennis Club has 10 outdoor courts, membership required. YMCA of Kanawha Valley has 13 indoor courts, membership required. North Charleston Community Center has 3 free indoor courts. Kanawha City Community Center has 2 free outdoor courts.
Between Charleston's five venues and Nitro's 17 courts, the Kanawha Valley has 22 pickleball courts within about a 15 minute drive of downtown Charleston.
Tournament details
- Dates: November 7 and 8, 2026 (community night Friday, November 6)
- Location: Nitro Athletic Complex, 1650 Park Avenue, Nitro, WV
- Cost: $45 registration, ages 16 and up
- Format: gender doubles Saturday, mixed doubles Sunday
- Benefits: Charleston Police Department youth programs
See the full list of pickleball courts in the area on the Charleston, WV court page.