Quote Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn View Post
The park will be patronized by just as many Detroiters as before.
This is quite obviously not true. When you attach an $11 charge to something that was previously free, it will impact patronage.

I don't really have a problem with the takeover, but there's no doubt the new ownership means a different type of park. This is no longer a city park. It's no longer analagous to the traditional major urban parks in the U.S. [[Fairmont Park in Philly, Forest Park in St. Louis, obviously the major Olmstead Parks in NYC area), it's now a fee-based, statewide amenity.

And common sense would dictate that some of the typical summertime Belle Isle activities [[cruising and picknicking) are now permantly curtailed, for better or worse.