Wattles Park Men's Club reports steady participation, small 2024 deficit and asks community for fundraising help

Tony Ziebelle, a representative of the Wattles Park Men's Club, told the Harper Creek Board of Education on Feb. 10 that the community sports organization closed 2024 with largely steady participation but a small operating deficit and several maintenance needs.

The club, which runs basketball, volleyball, indoor and outdoor soccer, baseball, softball and T‑ball for children from pre‑K through eighth grade (with some programs open to high school students), reported spring soccer had about 700 signups and roughly 500 participants who completed the session. Volleyball participation is rising, including a new high‑school league; fall soccer showed a slight decline in recent years, Ziebelle said.

"Spring soccer continues to be our biggest sport," Ziebelle said. "Last year we had 700 sign ups. We ended up having just over 500 participants that finished the sport with us in the spring." He also said volleyball will be the club's largest volleyball season in at least 12 years.

Wattles Park ended 2024 in a slight deficit—"to the tune of a couple thousand dollars," Ziebelle said—largely because of higher‑than‑expected maintenance and utility costs and a one‑time expense related to its outdoor concession stand. The club has two full‑time staff (Ziebelle and operations lead Nick Rausch) plus hourly high‑school and college students who assist on busy days.

The club has maintained low participant fees compared with nearby options. Ziebelle said basketball and baseball programs are priced around $90 per season, soccer sessions around $75 and indoor baseball $45; he said baseball and basketball cost more to operate because of officiating and equipment. The Blue Oval Ford factory is the club's basketball title sponsor this season, he said.

Ziebelle described revenue streams beyond registration and concessions: sponsorships, occasional facility rentals and adult leagues. He said the club has begun more active fundraising and secured a title sponsor for basketball, and that it also offers need‑based scholarships—about 5% of players received scholarship aid in the last basketball season.

On facilities, Ziebelle said the indoor building needs a floor refinishing soon and the outdoor baseball fields show age; the club is fundraising for both. He also described recurring operational challenges: cleaning and wear on gym floors during winter, traffic congestion at the Michigan Avenue entrance on busy Saturdays, and liability concerns from people driving golf carts near fields. To reduce parking congestion, staff stagger start times for games so not all matches begin simultaneously.

Ziebelle emphasized the club's relationship with the district: Wattles Park operates on Harper Creek Community Schools property under a longterm arrangement and generally aims to maintain facilities so the school district does not need to provide or pay for routine upkeep. "We are symbiotic with Harper Creek — we provide value to the school, and the school obviously provides value to us in return," he said.

Board members and staff asked clarifying questions about staffing, student employment and pricing; Ziebelle said nearly all hourly high‑school employees are Harper Creek students and that scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier.

Looking ahead, the club plans camps, clinics and additional summer offerings to fill slow calendar periods, expand indoor baseball capacity, pursue more title sponsors, and fundraise for planned maintenance. Ziebelle invited board members and community members to contact him for ideas or support.

The board did not take action on the report. Ziebelle closed by thanking volunteers and naming long‑time contributors.