Shelby Township has officially broken ground on its 40,000-square-foot Indoor Sports Complex, a major addition to the Shelby Township Community Park. Designed to serve residents year-round, the facility represents a significant investment in recreation, wellness, and community life, while also positioning the township as a regional destination for sports and events.
A Community-Driven Vision
The project moved forward following months of planning and a public meeting on September 3, 2024, where residents had the chance to share ideas about the features and programs most important to them. That feedback helped shape the final design, ensuring the complex reflects the needs and priorities of the community.
Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli emphasized the importance of that input:
“This Sports Complex is being developed with our residents in mind. Their ideas helped shape a facility that will benefit the entire community for years to come.”
Features That Complement the Park
The Sports Complex is designed to complement the amenities already in place at the 35-acre Community Park. Conceptual plans have now transitioned into construction, featuring:
- Multipurpose courts with retractable basketball hoops for tournaments, training, and community play.
- A turf field adaptable for indoor soccer, football practices, baseball/softball training, and community gatherings.
- A walking track for fitness groups, running clubs, and recreational walkers, enhanced with wellness-focused checkpoints and educational programming.
- Support spaces including locker rooms, restrooms, and office space with a registration area.
The design also includes flexible spaces for birthday parties, senior gatherings, fitness classes, and community events, ensuring the complex will be used well beyond athletics.
Economic Benefits and Partnerships
The township has positioned the Sports Complex as both a community asset and an economic driver. Partnerships with Shelby schools will enable the facility to host tournaments in basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and other sports. These events are expected to bring visitors into town, supporting local businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, and retail shops.
Funding Secured
To date, the township has secured $9.1 million in grants and donations to fund the project, including:
- $2.5 million from state appropriations (thanks to Senator Bumsted).
- $50,000 from county ARPA funds.
- Additional funding from private donations.
Generous contributions have come from a wide range of community partners and individuals, including:
- Oceana County Commissioners
- Shelby State Bank
- Shelby Road Baptist Church
- Oceana County Community Foundation
- Shelby Rotary Club
- Shelby Optimist Club
- Earl and Linda Peterson
- The Janet Raffaelli Memorial
- Shelby Township
An additional $2.5 million in funding is already earmarked for 2025–2026, ensuring continued progress on the project.
Annual operating costs are projected at $78,000 (excluding capital reserves). To ensure long-term sustainability, the township is finalizing an agreement with a third-party vendor to manage the facility under a pay-to-play structure, while subsidizing access for families in need.
Shaping Shelby’s Future
The groundbreaking marks a major milestone in Shelby Township’s long-term vision for community growth and wellness. Since the park’s opening, it has already hosted concerts, festivals, fundraisers, weddings, church services, and recreational events of all kinds. The new indoor facility will expand those opportunities, ensuring that residents and visitors can gather, play, and celebrate year-round.
“COVID created an awakening of outdoor spaces, exercise, and a sense of gathering,” township leaders reflected. “This facility continues that momentum—fostering a welcoming, healthy community that will thrive for generations.”
While formal economic impact studies are still underway, the township has begun tracking outcomes and anticipates a strong return in tourism, business growth, and community identity.
