Shelby Township, MI
Home MenuShelby Township Civic Center Campus
The Shelby Township Civic Center Campus is a vibrant hub for the community, offering a wide array of amenities and experiences for residents and visitors alike.
At the heart of the campus is the state-of-the-art Shelby Township Library, a center for learning and creativity, where people of all ages can access a variety of resources, attend workshops, and enjoy children’s programs.
The Shelby Township Veterans Memorial, located within the campus, adds a solemn and meaningful touch, honoring local veterans with a beautifully designed monument and space for reflection.
Along with these amenities, the Civic Center Campus is also home to important municipal services, including the Shelby Township Police Department, the 41-A District Court. The campus is also home to Shelby Township Hall, which houses many of the township’s municipal offices and departments to provide residents with convenient access to officials such as the Township Supervisor, Township Clerk and Township Treasurer. Services provided here include building permits, election services, tax information and community development resources.
Throughout the year, the Civic Center Campus hosts a variety of events that bring the community together. One of the standout annual celebrations is Christmas Aglow, where the campus transforms into a winter wonderland with a drone show to light the township’s 40-foot Christmas tree, free photos with Santa, hayrides and festive music.
The campus is also home to Shelby Township Summerfest, featuring live entertainment, food vendors, family-friendly activities and a drone show finale for an Independence Day concert from the Macomb Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the campus hosts the Shelby Township Parks and Rec Spooktacular, where families enjoy Halloween-themed activities, costumes and trick-or-treating around “Haunted Heritage Lake.” The Shelby Township Police Department Open House is another beloved event, allowing residents to tour the facilities, meet officers, and learn about the department’s role in keeping the township safe.
The Shelby Township Civic Center Campus is located in the heart of the Shelby Township Downtown Development Authority district at 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke Ave. Spanning from Shelby Township’s southern border with the City of Utica to its northern edge at 26 Mile Road, the DDA encompasses all business locations along Van Dyke Ave. This area is a thriving corridor for commerce, offering a range of retail, dining and professional services that contribute to the township’s vibrant local economy. The DDA focuses on improving infrastructure, supporting business development, and creating a welcoming environment for businesses and visitors, making the Civic Center Campus a key part of this growing and dynamic district.
With its diverse range of amenities and events, the Shelby Township Civic Center Campus serves as the beating heart of the community, offering something for everyone to enjoy year-round.
The Shelby Township Civic Center Campus offers convenient access through three boulevard entrances. The southern entrance off Van Dyke Ave. is located 1,400 feet south of 24 Mile Road and provides direct access to the Shelby Township Police Department and the 41 A District Court.
For those visiting the library or township offices, the northern entrance is 600 feet south of 24 Mile Road and leads directly to the Shelby Township Library, Township Hall, the Early Voting Center and the Veterans Memorial.
Additionally, there is an entrance on 24 Mile Road, 1,000 feet east of Van Dyke, which provides access to Heritage Lake and Garden as well as the walking paths that connect to Mae Stecker Park. These well-placed entrances make navigating the Civic Center Campus easy for all visitors.
- Shelby Township Hall - 52700 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI, 48316
- Shelby Township Early Voting Center - 52830 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI, 48316 (enter and park from campus' northern Van Dyke Ave. entrance)
- Shelby Township Library- 52610 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI, 48316
- Shelby Township Police - 52530 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI, 48316
- Shelby Township Veterans Memorial - 52700 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI 48316 (immediately in front of township hall's north entrance)
- 41 A District Court - 52420 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI, 48316
- Mae Stecker Park - 8600 24 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316 (enter and park from 24 Mile Road)
During large events such as Shelby Township Summerfest, the Police Department Open House, Halloween Spooktacular, and Christmas Aglow, special accommodations and changes to parking may be necessary to ensure event safety and security. We encourage visitors to check our website and social media for possible updates regarding parking availability during these significant events.
Additionally, during gatherings such as township events and high school homecoming or prom pictures, there may be a temptation to park on the campus lawns and grounds. Please refrain from doing so, as this can cause costly damage to the irrigation systems on the campus, negatively impacting the beauty of the grounds and the township's budget. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain the Civic Center Campus as a safe space for everyone.
Shelby Township Hall
Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
Phone: 586-731-5100
Email: info@shelbytwp.org
Shelby Township Library
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (Monday through Thursday); 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Friday and Saturday)
Phone: 586-739-7414
Email: shelbylib@libcoop.net
Shelby Township Police
Hours of Operation:
Lobby: Open 24/7
Department Offices: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
Records Bureau: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (Monday through Thursday)
Phone: 586-731-2121
Emergencies: 911
Website: shelbytownshippolice.org
41 A District Court
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
Phone: 586-739-7325
Website: shelbytwp.org/court
Mae Stecker Park, located at 8600 24 Mile Road, is a vibrant recreational space that forms part of the Shelby Township Civic Center Campus. Opened in 1974 and named in memory of former Township Clerk Mae Stecker, this 14-acre park offers a wide variety of amenities for both residents and visitors to enjoy year-round.
During the warmer months, visitors can take advantage of two lighted softball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickle ball courts and sand volleyball courts. For family outings, the park provides a large playscape, picnic pavilion, charcoal grill and multiple tot lots with swings. A 1.5-mile paved walking trail offers scenic views for outdoor enthusiasts, while picnic tables and restrooms ensure comfort for all park-goers.
A highlight of the park is the Onyx Tree Trail, a joint effort by the Shelby Township Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department and the Beautification Committee. This unpaved trail allows visitors to experience the beauty of nature through a variety of trees.
In the winter, the park transforms with a lighted, portable ice rink that welcomes hockey players on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and opens for family skating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays when weather permits.
The park also features a small pavilion, available for reservation, that accommodates 25-30 people, making it ideal for gatherings. Whether for a summer sports game, a winter skate or a relaxing picnic, Mae Stecker Park provides a welcoming and versatile space for the entire community.
Mae Stecker Onyx Tree Trail mapShelby Township’s new Beacon Tree sculpture rises as a striking symbol of heritage, community, and progress on the Civic Center Campus.
Commissioned by the Shelby Township Downtown Development Authority Board, the sculpture is the first step in creating an interconnected art walk that will tie together the township’s cultural centerpieces. This future art walk will link the state-of-the-art Shelby Township Library, with its one-of-a-kind Pewabic tile mural, Children’s Tree sculpture, and custom glass donor wall celebrating Heritage Lake, to the township’s annual participation in the Detroit Institute of Arts Inside|Out program, as well as historic treasures on campus such as the Andrews Schoolhouse Museum, Historic Hope Chapel, and the train display.
The Beacon Tree was designed by Detroit-based artists Israel and Erik Nordin of the Detroit Design Center. Their concept began with elements of the township’s iconic logo tree and expanded into abstract, geometric forms meant to symbolize the township, its buildings and its historic roots. This abstraction invites each viewer to bring their own interpretation, connecting personally with the work.
At its core, the sculpture is deeply rooted in history and hope. A singular torch-like stalk lifts upward toward a stainless steel grid cube, representing a growing community in motion, reaching toward the sky. This upward gesture reflects Shelby Township’s growth—transformation through industry, transportation, and innovation from the early days of the Packard Proving Grounds to today’s advanced manufacturing and robotics firms along Shelby Parkway and beyond.
The cube itself symbolizes the township’s borders and the many neighborhoods and communities that come together to form Shelby Township. From this grid structure, the abstracted branches of the tree grow and extend outward, reaching to the sky as a representation of the township’s vitality, unity, and shared future. The tree’s stem and base bend with implied motion, symbolizing the township’s path of progress, a road forged from its roots and carried forward into the future.
The work also draws powerful inspiration from the township’s role in the Underground Railroad and the story of the historic Beacon Tree of Spring Hill Farm. From 1850 to 1864, Peter and Sarah Lerich sheltered freedom seekers on their journey north, transforming their spring house into a refuge hidden beneath vines. A cedar tree, planted atop the spring, became a beacon for those escaping slavery—a landmark pointing toward freedom in Canada. The new Beacon Tree honors this legacy, reminding the community that Shelby Township has long been a place of refuge, light, and hope for those most in need.
Green and amber glass embedded within the sculpture evoke organic life, carrying the viewer’s eye from the roots upward to the beacon above. In this way, the piece reflects the township’s past and its living, growing spirit. To stand beneath the Beacon Tree is to be reminded that each generation is a torchbearer—passing the light forward, leading the way to a better place, and building a stronger community together.
Plans are underway to complement the sculpture with a tiered concrete hardscape or water feature to further highlight its presence near Heritage Lake, enhancing the Civic Center Campus as a cultural destination.
The Beacon Tree is more than public art—it is a testament to Shelby Township’s journey. A township in motion. A beacon grown from the roots of hope and community.
Download the flyer for more information
Shelby Township is honored to once again participate in the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Inside|Out program, which brings museum-quality reproductions from the DIA’s world-class collection to outdoor spaces across southeast Michigan. From May through October 2025, eight pieces of artwork are on display at key locations throughout the township, turning our community into an open-air gallery.
This year’s Inside|Out locations in Shelby Township include:
- Shelby Township Police Department and 41A District Court – Coastal Scene with a Man-of-War and Other Vessels, Ludolf Backhuysen
- Shelby Township Library – Reading the Story of Oenone, Francis Davis Millet
- Historic Hope Chapel – Annunciatory Angel, Fra Angelico
- Shelby Township Hall (West Entrance) – Noah’s Ark: Genesis, Charles McGee
- Heritage Lake Pavilion – In the Garden, Mary Cassatt
- Mae Stecker Park Playground – Girl and Laurel, Winslow Homer
- Heritage Lake Walking Path 1 – Bank of the Oise at Auvers, Vincent van Gogh
- Heritage Lake Walking Path 2 – Lovers on a Balcony During Monsoon, Unknown Artist, India
Since 2010, the Inside|Out program has brought art to public places in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties each spring and summer, promoting the museum’s mission of making art accessible to everyone. It celebrates the idea that art can—and should—be part of everyday life, helping to create shared cultural experiences and foster community pride.
Download a map of Shelby Township's Inside|Out locations
The Shelby Township Downtown Development Authority is dedicated to promoting economic growth and revitalization within the township’s Van Dyke Ave. business district. Its primary focus is to enhance the overall quality of life for businesses, residents and visitors through strategic planning, infrastructure improvements and support for local businesses. The DDA encompasses the all of Van Dyke Ave. within the township, playing a crucial role in fostering a vibrant commercial environment.
The DDA's relationship with the Civic Center Campus is integral to the community’s cultural and recreational offerings. As the presenting sponsor of major events like the Shelby Township Summerfest and Christmas Aglow, the DDA helps bring the community together through celebrations that showcase local talent, food and festive activities. These events enhance community spirit and drive traffic to local businesses, reinforcing the DDA’s mission to stimulate economic development while fostering a sense of belonging in Shelby Township.
The Shelby Township Civic Center Development Plan was a direct result of the 2022 Community Visioning Exercise, which saw residents, township department heads and the Shelby Township Board of Trustees designate an initiative to replace the township's band shell and explore additional options for programs and events on the municipal campus at 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke Ave. as a top priority.
The purpose of the Civic Center Development Plan was to provide a blueprint for the future of the municipal grounds, along with surrounding areas like Mae Stecker Park and other township-owned properties, such as Cherry Creek Golf Course. The plan offers insight into the long-term goal for the former Shelby Township Community Center, which once housed the 41 A District Court, Shelby Township Library, and Community Relations/Shelby TV offices and studio at 51690 Van Dyke Ave.
The Civic Center Development Plan included three phases for the project:
- Phase I: Analysis and Vision
- Phase II: Conceptual Design
- Phase III: Preferred Concept Plan
The plan, which was approved by the Board of Trustees July 19, 2022, identifies signature recreation opportunities to serve as a major recreational anchor, attracting both visitors and residents. Additionally, the plan outlines a strategy for bicycle and pedestrian circulation, parking, band shell location, Community Relations building site, future art fair/farmers market area, Maris Drive/golf course connections, and ecological system preservation and restoration.
View the Shelby Township Civic Center Development PlanShelby Township officially broke ground on the future Shelby Township Amphitheater and Community Relations Building, July 15, 2026.
Township officials, staff, project partners and community members gathered behind Township Hall to celebrate the start of a project that will create a new gathering place for residents for generations to come. The facility is set to be open in time for the 2027 Shelby Township Bicentennial Summer Fest June 25-26, 2027.
The new $11.2 Million amphitheater will be paid in cash with no debt, no bonding and no increase in taxes. It will become the home of some of Shelby Township's most popular community events, including Summer Fest, Christmas Aglow, and our free summer concert series, while also providing expanded opportunities for programming with the Shelby Township Library, Shelby Township Parks & Recreation, Community Relations Department, and other township departments and community groups.
The adjoining Community Relations Building will provide dedicated space to support the planning and production of the township's communications, community events and the award-winning Shelby TV programming.
Shelby Township Amphitheater & Community Relations Building Progress Photo Album
In addition to the interactive exhibits, there are bounce houses, free hot dogs, snacks and more. This event offers children the chance to meet their hometown heroes, while everyone can get a close-up view of what makes the Shelby Township Police Department one of the top law enforcement teams in the state of Michigan.
Get ready for a hauntingly good time at the Shelby Township Parks and Recreation Halloween Spooktacular, set amidst the enchanting ambiance of Haunted Heritage Lake on the Civic Center Campus.
Gather your little ghouls and goblins for a frightfully delightful evening of trick-or-treating around the lake, where local businesses and families will be stationed at tables, eagerly handing out sweet treats. But that’s not all—indulge in seasonal favorites like cider and donuts (while supplies last) and let your creativity run wild with spooky crafts. Take a stroll through the kid-friendly haunted gardens, designed to bring a playful scare to children of all ages.
This popular event regularly sells out, so be sure to check back when registration opens in August for the 2026 Halloween Spooktacular. Trick-or-Treat times are available at 6, 6:30, and 7 p.m.
Businesses, community groups and families are invited to join the fun and set up a table to hand out candy for just $10 per spot (bring your own table and chairs or rent a set for an additional $10). We encourage participants to dress up or decorate their space in a festive theme—an award will be given for the best-decorated space! For more information or to sign up your business or group, call 586-731-0300.
Thanks to the ongoing partnership with the Shelby Township Downtown Development Authority, Shelby Township's biggest Christmas event and tradition, the annual Christmas Aglow and tree lighting, will be brighter than ever this year.
The Aglow takes place at 6 p.m. the first Friday in December on the Civic Center Campus at 52700 Van Dyke Ave., where the community lights its 34-foot Christmas tree and welcomes Santa Claus as he makes his first stop to greet the township.
After lighting the tree, visitors can head into the library for free photos with Santa Claus until 8:30 p.m.
After seeing Santa in the library, visit the Friends of the Shelby Township Library's popular annual Books by the Bundle Sale. The sale features themed book bundles wrapped in ribbon, bowed and ready for giving. All proceeds from the book bundles support the Shelby Township Library.
In addition to traditional favorites such as a hot chocolate stand, kids crafts at the Kris Kringle Castle, marshmallow roasting, horse-drawn carriage rides, the "Holiday Express" train display and a live reindeer.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
4-11PM
- Petting zoo
- Touch-a-Truck
- Balloon Artists
- Enchanted Storybook Sing-a-Long and Dance Party
- “The Treehouse Live”
- Face painting & airbrush
- Princesses & superheroes
- OUCARES Sensory Space
- Free outdoor concert by Parallel Fifth
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
6:30-10:30 PM
- Petting zoo
- Balloon Artists
- Backyard games
- Face painting & airbrush
- OUCARES Sensory Space
- Kids Zone fun including a toddler bounce house, 24ft inflatable slide, 60 ft obstacle course and rock-climbing wall
- 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps
- Macomb Symphony Orchestra Patriotic Live Performance
- Independence Day Grand Finale drone show from Firefly Drone Shows
Handicap Parking and Transport:
- Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Shelby Golden K and the Kiwanis Club of Utica-Shelby Township, handicap transports will be available on campus.
- Handicap parking will be located at the 41A District Court parking lot. From there, golf cart transports will take you safely to and from the event viewing area.
Traffic and Access:
- Traffic will be allowed to access the campus and leave the event only from the southern Van Dyke Ave. entrance by the Police Department and 41A District Court.
- Please avoid the area of 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke Ave. after the event on Saturday, June 26, as traffic will not be allowed to go westbound on 24 Mile Road.
Shuttle Services:
- Visitors are encouraged to park at one of the two shuttle locations and take a bus to the event for speedy and convenient arrival and departure.
Shuttle Locations:
- TBA
On-Site Parking:
- Parking at the Shelby Township Civic Center Campus is extremely limited to accommodate security and accessibility.
- Limited on-site parking will be available at Mae Stecker Park and the Shelby Township Early Voting Center.
- Handicap parking will be located at the 41 A District Court parking lot. From there, golf cart transports will take you safely to and from the event viewing area.
Biking to the Event:
- If you prefer to walk or bike to Summer Fest, please check our map of sidewalks in the township to find the safest route.
Download the 2026 Shelby Township Summer Fest Event Guide