A new community center is set to open in Shelby in just a couple of weeks, following a dedication ceremony hosted on Tuesday, April 15. The facility, funded with a $5 million donation by the Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation and built by Chester Inc., is set to provide the small town of less than 500 people with a gymnasium, small kitchen, community room, fitness center, and more.
Shelby is the hometown of the late Dean White, the birthplace of the family’s signage/advertising company, and the hospitality company operated by White’s son, the late Bruce White. Bruce White maintained his family’s deep roots in the community. Before he passed away in 2023, he made it a goal for the foundation to build something for the town in its community park.
“This facility represents what the word community means to all of us in the White family,” said Beth White, chair of White Lodging and wife of the late Bruce White. “It’s a place for neighbors to gather and for kids to learn, play, and dream. It’s a resource for families to grow stronger together, and a testament to the idea that wherever your journey takes you, this will always be home.”
Before he passed, Bruce White had sketched out a vision for the community center, but there were few specifics laid out. Bill Hanna, director of the Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation, turned to Chester Inc., to help the foundation execute White’s vision.
Few construction firms have deeper ties to the Region than Chester Inc., whose history in the area stretches back over 75 years. The firm also provides agricultural services, and works closely with farmers in the area – some of them from Shelby.
“We spent a lot of time down here talking to local farmers about what their needs for Shelby would be,” said Tony Peuquet, sales engineer at Chester Inc. “We developed a scope of work that fit the profile of this town. That was a small community center with a very fun, energetic park atmosphere. I want to thank Beth and Bill for trusting us to do this.”
The community center is free to use for all Shelby residents and doubles as an emergency warming facility and flood shelter. Crossroads YMCA is set to operate the building, which will offer different YMCA programming to accompany the center’s facilities.
“Today is a great example of the power a vision holds,” Jay Buckmaster, president & CEO of Crossroads YMCA said. “It’s an example of a group of people coming together to create a community. That’s what Shelby is. This facility is more than a place to play pickleball or to use the gym. It’s a place to connect and belong. It’s a second home, and we aim to meet Shelby’s needs with a bunch of different programming.”
The community center bears the name of the Shelby Community Park Foundation which is headed by its president, Cedar Creek Township Trustee Alice Dahl. She knows the town well, and immediately understood the impact it will have on the residents.
“Shelby is a community that helps everyone. If you need your driveway cleaned, the fire department will come,” she said. “This building is just a perfect fit. It’s fabulous for the kids in the community that the Y is here. The Y changes children’s lives, as does the White Family Foundation. I think this is going to give kids opportunities.”
U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan attended the dedication, and noted how exciting it was to see groups such as the Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation, Chester Inc., and Crossroads YMCA come together for Shelby.
“Beth White articulated very well just how important Shelby is to the White family, and this community center will be a place where children can grow and seniors can connect,” he said. “You can just envision all the birthday parties, family reunions, and volunteer firefighter spaghetti dinners that will happen here. It’s going to bring the community closer together, and the legacy of Bruce, Dean, and Barbara White will live on.”
To learn more about Chester Inc., visit chesterinc.com. For more information on the Dean & Barbara White Family foundation, check dbwfamilyfoundation.org.
