SHELBY - The 68,000 square-foot Tiger Athletic Community Center (TACC), located on the southeast side of the Shelby Township Community Park, now in its final phase of construction, is looking toward a soft opening in the middle of May, according to Shelby Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli.
As final construction takes place and finishing touches come together, Raffaelli, on behalf of the township, has been hosting sneak peek tours to area organizations, including Shelby Village Council and staff, the Shelby Rotary and Shelby Optimists.
The main attractions of the new $9.7 million project will be the hardwood courts and artificial-turf indoor playing fields. The hardwood courts are built to accommodate two full-size basketball courts, but can also be divided into three volleyball or six pickleball courts. The indoor playing field is large enough to accommodate full-size soccer and football practices/games, or can be divided with movable nets for golf, softball and baseball practice.
Additional indoor amenities include a running/walking track with rubberized surface elevated above the courts and fields below; a climbing wall complete with modern belay equipment; an indoor archery range; golf simulator/practice room; birthday party/board room; arcade; and children’s playscape.
The center will be managed by a nationally known third-party service. Exact fees and hours of operation are yet to be determined, but Raffaelli did say there would be four tiers of membership/use - Shelby Seniors, Shelby Township taxpayers, Oceana County residents (outside Shelby Township) those living outside of Oceana County.
In addition to the athletic facility, Orthopedics Associates of Michigan i’move physical therapy program will be leasing 1,600 square-feet on the east side of the building for their newest location. “This will be their largest satellite facility,” Raffaelli said.
From top to bottom, and from the inside out, this state-of-the-art facility has been well-thought out and planned to meet many needs within the greater Shelby community. “We are building this for our kids, the next generations who will come after us,” Raffaelli said at the end of the tour.
The project, funded by grants and private donations, has come up approximately $300,000 short, anyone wishing to close the gap is encouraged to contact the Oceana Community Foundation. More information is available at oceanafoundation.org.
