Wattles Park Men's Club $3.5 million sports complex is a 'gift for the community'

The Wattles Park Men's Club started in 1958 with a baseball field and a dream to bring sports to the area's youth.

With the official opening on Saturday of the $3.5 million Wattles Park Men's Club Sports Complex, now the centerpiece of the WPMC campus, those who were there more than a half-century ago would be quite impressed with how that dream has grown.

"This sports complex, and what we are doing now, all comes on the shoulders of the people that started the Wattles Park Men's Club — a group of dads that wanted something more for their kids," said WPMC Executive Director Gary Lincoln. "Most of them that were there when this first started have passed away, but maybe they are looking down on this and seeing what is going on and they are probably saying, 'Wow.' "

The 24,000-square foot indoor facility in the Harper Creek area near the corner of Michigan Avenue and 9 1/2 Mile Road hosted its first day of WPMC youth basketball on Saturday on its three full-size courts. It Lincoln's and others' vision to create such a place and it was all achieved by donations to the WPMC program, a non-profit organization that emphasizes low-cost youth sports for all abilities from all areas for kids in first to eighth grade.

The new structure sits on what used to be the main dirt parking lot for the WPMC baseball/softball and soccer fields. Prior to its opening, WPMC had indoor sports programs at the since-demolished Wattles Park Junior High School and later at the Battle Creek YMCA.

"We have dreamed about something like this for years," Lincoln said. "We thought about increasing the size of our facilities when we were at Wattles Park Junior High. We thought about adding to the gym at the old high school. And those ideas were terrific, but they didn't fly and the cost was prohibitive for the school system.

"Finally, we said, lets do it ourselves. Everything is donated. There is no tax dollars going into this, no millage, nothing. We have had a number of angels who have stepped forward, close to 300 people that have donated.

"What a wonderful gift for the community and something that will last generations."

Despite the late start to the youth basketball program this season, due to delays with the facility, there are still 500 kids signed up for WPMC basketball as all three courts were bustling on Saturday.

"This is a great feeling to finally be open," WPMC Director of Operations Tony Zebell said. "It's a project that has been in the works for a long time. Our end goal was to always have all our programs on one campus. We have had baseball and soccer here for years, but we have always had our indoor sports at different places. But now this facility lets us do this. The feedback has been great. The entire process has been humbling to know what we are doing is being seen by the community and they appreciate it."

Along with basketball, the facility will host future volleyball leagues, indoor soccer and floor hockey. There are also plans to have indoor baseball, pickleball and possibly more.

"We are able to do things we weren't able to do before, because this is our building and we can do what we want," said Lincoln, who has been involved in WPMC since the 1970s and has been the executive director for more than 20 years. "We even looked at roller skating. We haven't had roller skating in Battle Creek for years. So down the road, maybe we could do something like that.

"Whatever works for the Wattles Park Men's Club, we will do. Because this isn't for travel teams, we aren't renting courts. This facility and these courts are for our kids that play in our programs."

The flexible complex can have three basketball games going on at the same time — with a court with Michigan State University logos on it, one with University of Michigan markings and a center WPMC court. The area also has room for spectators, as well as concession stands, office space and a good amount of parking.

"We have been open for some practices, but with this being our first day, it was great to be open and to have grandparents, parents in the building cheering their kids on," Lincoln said. "The feedback has been fantastic. Everyone loves it."

With annual numbers of nearly 5,000 kids each year playing in the various WPMC programs from over 60 different schools in the region, the new building is the star of the long running sports program and greets everyone at the door with a sign that says 'Welcome' in 60 different languages.

"This is so great and a great investment for the community," said Israel Flores, who was watching his son play basketball on Saturday and often volunteers in the WPMC soccer program. "It is fantastic and beautiful. I love the sign you see when you first come in. It is so welcoming and really shows the diversity of this program and how they are open to all kids from all different backgrounds."

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Harper Creek's WPMC $3.5 million sports complex is a 'gift for the community'