Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center

Shelby Township, Michigan

The Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center is located in the northwest section of River Bends Park in Shelby

Township, Michigan. The northern boundary of the Nature Center is adjacent to a unique natural area

known as the Shadbush Tract. Both the natural area and the Nature Center are named for the

exceptionally large Shadbush trees that grow in the area.

During the 1950s, the Nature Center area was a site of silos that formerly housed the Nike Missiles.

Discussion concerning construction of the Nature Center began in 1993, when Shelby Township

acquired a part of the Rochester-Utica Recreation Area from the State of Michigan. This area is now

known as River Bends Park.

With the assistance of the Shelby Parks & Recreation Committee, Shelby Township was able to apply

for and receive a grant from the DNR (Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund) in the

amount of $302,688.00.

Actual construction began in May of 2000. On February 3, 2001, the Nature Center officially opened

to the public.

Building Size………………….………..............………….…………3,990 square feet

Log Construction………………................…..……………..Norlog LTD (Canadian Firm)

Log Size…………...…………......….…..............………………...…10" diameter white pine

Architect……………….……...................………….AEW (Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick)

General Contractor…….……...................……......……Boulevard Construction Company

Contractor Donations............…....Various local contractors donated labor & materials

The Shadbush belongs to a group of flowering shrubs and small trees called

Amelanchier, in the Rose family. The name is said to be derived from its

sweet tasting berries.

Due to their "flowering" and "fruiting" characteristics, a number of

Amelanchiers have been given such names as "Shadbush", "Serviceberry", and "Juneberry".

"Shadbush" refers to the flowering of the bush-like tree in the early spring, when the Shad fish used to

swim up the eastern rivers to spawn.

The mountain people call it the "Serviceberry" because the trees bloomed around the time the circuit

riding ministers went into the mountains after each spring to perform such services as weddings.

The name "Juneberry" reflects the maturity of its small. "apple-like" fruit in the month of June.

Over 40 species of birds and other animals like the skunk, raccoon, squirrel, and chipmunk eat the

berries, which also make fine pies, jam, jelly, and wine. Rabbits, beaver, whitetail deer, and moose also

browse on the twigs.

Native Americans mixed the dried berries with dried buffalo meat to make a food staple called "Pemmican".

The bark was simmered and used to soothe eyes irritated by the sun, dust, and snow blindness. They

also used the wood to make arrow shafts.

The buds are rather long, slender, and pointed. The bud scales may be

greenish or reddish tinged in color.

The leaves are simple, egg-shaped, sharply toothed, and

alternate. They are about ½ - 2 ½" long and about 1" wide. They

may be somewhat rounded or heart-shaped at the base. In the

fall, the leaves turn pretty shades of yellow, orange, and red.

The small white flowers with five narrow petals grow in clusters at the end

of the branches. They bloom in early spring (March/April) before or as

the leaves appear.

The small, round, apple-like fruits, the size of a large pea or small

blueberry, are reddish purple or blue when ripe in early June.

The bark is mostly smooth and light gray in color with long, dark streaks with stripes

like the stripes on a tiger.

The Shadbush Tract is a unique 80 acre natural area located in the northwest section of River Bends

Park in Shelby Township. It’s named for the exceptionally large Shadbush trees that grow in the area.

This area has often been referred to as "the little Grand Canyon of Macomb County" because of its

geological features. It might also be called "the gem of Shelby Township". There is no other known

tract of land in Shelby Township with such a variety of habitats — hardwood forest, cattail marsh,

cedar swamp, and riverside meadows. A wide range of birds, small animals, and plant life is also

found in the Shadbush Tract.

Over 30 years ago, the Michigan Natural Areas Council formed a reconnaissance team to survey this

unique natural tract. At the completion of the study, the team recommended that this natural tract,

with its wide variety of plants, animals, and natural features be dedicated as a Nature Study Area. This

recommendation became a reality on April 8, 1966 when the Shadbush Tract was dedicated for protection as a

natural area preserved in its natural state, with foot traffic restricted to foot trails, and its use restricted to

nature study by the public.

In January of 1992, the Macomb Audubon Society initiated a Natural Features Inventory of the Shadbush

Tract. This organization was endeavoring to inventory the plants, trees, mammals, reptiles, amphibians,

insects, and bird life in the natural area. In March of 1992, the Macomb Audubon Society

commissioned students under the direction of Dr. James Wells of the Cranbrook Institute of Science,

to perform a Botanical Survey of the Shadbush Tract as well as other parts of the River Bends Park.

The Macomb Audubon Society had also engaged qualified biologists, entomologists, herpetologists,

etc. to conduct the other parts of the ongoing survey.

Over 100 species of birds have been identified in the Shadbush Tract as well as protected plants and

animal species like Lady Slippers, Trillium, and the Spotted Turtle.

River Bends Park is indeed an outstanding community resource. It is rich in plant and animal life, and

has historical significance as well. In 2000, a bridge was constructed to connect the two sections of

River Bends Park.

The park is divided into two sections by the Clinton River, which flows through the park in an area

approximately six miles long. The main entrance to the eastern section of the Park located on 22

Mile Road. This section includes picnic areas, three picnic shelters, rest rooms, and a hiking trail.

The flood plain along the east side of the river provides an 18-hole Frisbee golf course for more

active recreation.

Evidence of the historic Clinton-Kalamazoo Canal borders the eastern boundary of River Bends Park.

The entrance to the western section of the park is located off the east side of Ryan Road at River Bends Drive.

This section includes a unique natural area referred to as the Shadbush Tract, the Shelby Shadbush Nature

Center, and Woodall Neighborhood Park. A trap and archery range, RC race track, and a hill for sledding can

also be found in the western section of the park. The Shadbush Tract and Nature Center provide

opportunities for passive recreation, while the Woodall Neighborhood Park provides ball diamonds, a

soccer field, ice rink, and a 1.6 mile paved path for more active recreation. The area also includes

picnic tables, a picnic shelter, rest rooms, and a playground area.

This section of the park is also important historically. It was a former site of the Underground Railroad

and the Joe Louis Farm and Training Center. During the 1950s, it was also the home of a U.S. Army

Base, complete with armed Nike Missiles.

Tamarack         Hackberry

Large Tooth Aspen         Yellow Birch

Ironwood         Red Mulberry

White Cedar         Sugar Maple

Spice Bush         White Elm

Red Maple         Red Raspberry

Red Elm         Black Maple

Black Raspberry         Black Ash

Basswood         Common Elder

White Ash         Bitternut Hickory

Gooseberry         Prickly Ash         Cottonwood

Black Cherry         White Pine         Poison Sumac

Choke Cherry         Canada Yew         Aromatic Sumac

Red Oak         Willow         Alternate Leaf Dogwood

White Oak         Honeysuckle         Red Osier Dogwood

Black Oak         Narrowleaf Willow         Flowering Dogwood

Bur Oak         Poison Ivy         Gray Dogwood

Shadbush         Bladdernut         Tulip Tree

Witch Hazel         Pussy Willow         Blue Beach

Hawthorn         Smooth Honeysuckle         Sycamore

Bloodroot                     Jack-in-the-Pulpit                                 Twinflower

Skunk Cabbage     `    Wild Ginger                                          Blue Violet

Broadleaf Toothwort    Early Meadow Rue                             Partridge Berry

Marsh Marigold            Roundleaf Hepatica                           Sedge

Nude Mitewort             Small Soloman Seal                           Wood Rush

Miterwort                      White Trillium                                       Bellwort

Swamp Current           Wood Anemone                                  Fern

Douglas Bitter Cress Canada Mayflower                              Shinleaf

Goldthread                  Spring Beauty                                      Ladyslipper

Dwarf Raspberry         Wild Geranium                                   Columbine

Cutleaf Toothwort       Early Buttercup                                    Troutlily

Whitetail Deer                             Coyote

Fox                                               Raccoon

Opossum                                     Skunk

Squirrel                                        Badger

Beaver                                         Muskrat

Mink                                             Chipmunk

Wood Duck                                 Gopher (13 lined squirrel)

Cottontail Rabbit                        Mice (several species)

At one time, there were three rivers in Michigan called the Huron River…

The Lower Huron, which flows through Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Upper Huron, which flows through Pontiac, Rochester, Shelby Township, Utica, and Mt.

Clemens, on its way to Lake St. Clair.

The Huron of the North, which flows through the thumb area of Michigan

Having three rivers with the same name caused so much confusion among people that two of the

rivers were renamed.

The Upper Huron was renamed the Clinton River in honor of Governor Clinton of New York.

The Huron of the North was renamed the Cass River in honor of Governor Lewis Cass of Michigan.