Volume 2, Issue 8 JULY 19, 2024
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Shelby Township Park welcomes all By Amanda Dodge The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
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Through numerous grants and community partnerships, the 36-acre Shelby Township Park is now open to all. Located on Buchanan Road, just west of 72nd Avenue, the impressive park has something for everyone. “Everything is open now,” Shelby Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli said. “We are just doing the finishing touches, including putting in Wi-Fi and cameras.” The agriculture-themed park includes a monochromatic color scheme “to be very palatable,” Raffaelli said, with a mixture of various shades of red, blue and green. Wayfinding signs in English and Spanish and maps help one navigate the park’s numerous elements. Those elements begin at the entrance, which has an old, dark green farm truck and rockscape, with an orange Case tractor behind it. On the other side of the entrance, to match the newer Shelby Township logo, is a 6-foot-
tall apple and a cherry. A bunch of asparagus will be added and is being commissioned “as we speak. Oceana County is the largest asparagus producer in Michigan, the second largest tart cherry producer in the U.S. and the second largest apple producer in Michigan.” Raffaelli said. “We also have a donor pavilion, which is a large grain bin that was converted to a gazebo.” Then one really gets the lay of the land with basketball courts, smaller and varsity soccer fields, T-ball and softball/baseball fields, pickleball courts and so much more. This past Tuesday, a group of adults were utilizing the pickleball courts, which opened a month ago, according to Raffaelli, and some children were playing on the playground nearby, which opened at the beginning of June. Starting at the larger of the two playgrounds and heading west towards the soccer fields is the 24-station Book Walk, featuring “Star in a Jar” by Sam Hay and Sarah Massini this month. Raffaelli said that the story will be changed each month. The various fields include bleachers and concession stands complete with the Shelby Tiger’s signature purple and logo, and large digital scoreboards. There is also a pavilion with 10 tables and
four barbecue grills. Raffaelli said that people are already utilizing the pavilion for birthday parties, and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, if one would like to reserve tables, they are to contact the Shelby Township offices and pay a small fee. The pavilion is located near the bike repair station, which is on the path directly connected to the William Field Hart-Montague Memorial Rail Trail. The station includes “every bike tool known to man” to repair a bicycle, Raffaelli said. Raffaelli was particularly proud of the trike riding track, where youngsters can learn to ride in a safe environment. The track has a fruit stand, road signs, a gas pump and a miniature ATM. “It is a safe spot for children to learn, and we are providing the trikes on an honor system,” he explained. “The idea is that they graduate from that and then can go to ride with their parents.” Nearby is an old red fire truck. More whimsical art continues in front of the larger playground with an enormous yellow duck sporting sunglasses, a small red pig, a mushroom and a turtle. The smaller playground is for ages 2-5 and the larger is for ages 5-12. Both include music-making stations, binoculars and more.
“The entire park is accessible for all abilities,” Raffaelli said. There is also a fitness center, and the equipment provides visual information on how to perform a number of exercises. Behind the fitness center is an amphitheater with stone seating. There are also three walking/riding loops of various lengths around the park. “The park was built for Oceana County children and residents,” Raffaelli said. “It’s time for local government to build legacy items that can last the next 20 to 30 to 40 years - new schools and new roads for the next generation. Area residents deserve a worldclass facility, and they have one. “I’m extremely passionate about Shelby growing and Oceana too, and that requires infrastructure, parks and projects.” Raffaelli would also like to thank project cochair Tammy Carey, all the residents and businesses that supported the park financially and Senator Jon Bumstead for his assistance with funding from the state. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of the park is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, during the Shelby Fruit Festival, which will take place there.
NCEDP assists Slate Building with Hesperia renovation On Friday, June 21, the Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership (NCEDP), powered by The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), announced that the Slate Building in Hesperia will be adding three housing units to the second floor. The MEDC plans to support the project with a Build MI Community (BMC) Initiative grant. The renovation of the Slate Building in Hesperia marks a significant milestone for the village, being the first major community development in over 40 years. This project, initiated by Slate Property Co, aims to revitalize the historic building by adding three housing units to the second floor. This development is set to provide much-needed housing and invigorate the local economy, reflecting the company’s commitment to fostering progress and enhancing community life in Hesperia. The Slate Building has a rich history dating back to the mid-to-late 1800s, when it was originally constructed at Aetna Corners. The building was moved to downtown Hesperia, and has since served various purposes, including a village mercantile, pool hall, and mortuary. In 1956, Robert and Elaine Slate transformed it into Bob’s Drugs pharmacy, unofficially naming it the Slate Building. The second floor was their family home. It has seen minimal upgrades over the years. For more information on the history of the Slate Building and the upcoming project, visit the Slate Property Co website. “The Slate Building project began as an idea to preserve our family legacy and quickly turned into a community project to help create momentum for future growth in Hesperia,” said Aaron Slate of Slate Property Co. “From our project’s beginning, I was overwhelmed with the amount of support and encouragement we received from our community.” “This project will truly change the look and feel of our small downtown,” Hesperia Village President Mike Farber said. “As the project begins, we are hopeful it will encourage other businesses to apply for help through the programs that are available.” The NCEDP worked closely with the MEDC and Slate Property Co. to coordinate state and local resources, including helping obtain an award under the Build MI Community Initiative (BMC) in the form of a grant, in the amount of up to $227,705, or approximately 32 percent of eligible investment for the project. Additionally, Slate Property Co was awarded $90,000 to support the new housing units from the Newaygo County Housing Partnership Fund, a collaboration between the Fremont Area Community Foundation and the County of Newaygo. Slate Property Co also received a $125,000 Program Related Investment loan from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. “This project will energize a tired building to a renewed use, add desperately needed housing to Hesperia’s downtown and is providing an opportunity for the Slate family to invest in the place they’ve done business for generations,” said Julie Burrell, Senior Economic Development Director of NCEDP and project lead. “This project is creating something for the entire community to get excited about for the first time in a long time.”
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