As a new resident of Macomb County, there are so many places to explore! Several days ago, I spent my afternoon in Shelby Charter Township, traversing the parks and enjoying the festivities in honor of Independence Day.
My first stop of the day was at the Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center beside the Woodall Neighborhood Park. Surrounded by a canopy of trees, the nature center’s outer exterior is reminiscent of a log cabin and it sits adjacent to the center’s Teaching Gardens. Inside, the nature center houses all kinds of critters, such as reptiles, amphibians, and insects, each with their own unique name. From Colonel the corn snake to Ponder the pond turtle, these critters are docile and available for anyone to visit.
Behind the nature center is a 5K marked trail that leads to River Bends Park, which you can also reach by driving to the entrance on 22 Mile Rd. At River Bends Park multiple play areas are scattered across the grounds. There are also large gazebos and tons of open space for other fun outdoor activities.
After spending time at River Bends, I found myself visiting the Shelby Township Municipal Offices. Behind the offices stands the Andrews schoolhouse. Built in the 1800s, this one room schoolhouse was named for Hiram Andrews, who owned the land that it previously occupied. On display beside the schoolhouse is a steam locomotive that was built in 1920. The train is open for the public to walk-in and explore.
Farther past the parking lot of the municipal grounds sits the Heritage Gardens. There, a paved trail follows along a pond that is occupied by little fish and families of ducks. Benches are spread across the park and there is even access to a gazebo.
After walking through the Heritage Gardens, I made my way to the Independence Day fireworks and food trucks. Many of the festivities, such as the bounce pads, ice cream trucks, and live music, were at the Ford Field Central Park.
From there, a little opening between the fences led to the parking lot beside 2SP Sports Performance, where a collection of food trucks gathered. No matter what kind of food you were craving, the trucks had you covered. I noticed soul food, Chinese food, carnival food, bubble tea, and so much more.
As the fireworks lit up the sky, my afternoon trip to Shelby came to a close. There are so many sights to see throughout the township that I couldn’t get to them all. Which places would you recommend to visit? Or, if you're new to the area like myself and you need help finding something, visit our Make Macomb Your Home communities page and Things to Do section!
Rachel Dearing is an intern for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
