Spillway Picnic Shelters (Shelbyville)

This day use area sits just below the Lake Shelbyville Dam on the southern end of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The facility is a popular location for fishing, picnicking, and walking trails. This area is a prime location for shoreline and kayak fishing, and features a fish cleaning station and a handicap accessible fishing pier. Some of the local fish in the lake are catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass, and bluegill. The General Dacey Trail is located in the area and is a multi-use biking and walking trail which extends through the south end of the lake, spillway, the dam, and into the city park. There is an on-site playground for children, and several picnic areas for a family cookout or a lunch break. There are two picnic shelters. Spillway Picnic Shelter #1 has 6 picnic tables, 1 group grill and fireplace, flushable restrooms attached to the shelter, overhead lights, 4 electrical outlets, and parking; the playground and river access are located across the street. Spillway Picnic Shelter #2 does not have electricity, but has 6 picnic tables and 1 group grill, with the playground next to the shelter and flushable restrooms down the sidewalk to the south. Shelter #2 is right next to the spillway and has a perfect view of the dam. The day use area has an excellent view of the Lake Shelbyville Dam, which connects the lake to the Kaskaskia River. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink. The Lake Shelbyville Dam and the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center are located north of the day use area. West of the day use area is the town of Shelbyville, which offers small town boutiques as well as eateries to explore.