What to do with Belle Isle?

[Gistok]

As for fountains, the Scott Fountain is the only one I know of. There is the mini fountain in the conservatory Tropical room, and at least a water spray in the pool between the conservatory and aquarium. But there are a number of monuments [[statues) around the island.

I believe that the city wants to spend $50 million of their Federal American Rescue Plan money on the island.

It would be nice if the island got some of the $1.2 billion of the Ralph Wilson Foundation money [[which is paying for the west riverfront park).

[Richard]

As for fountains, the Scott Fountain is the only one I know of. There is the mini fountain in the conservatory Tropical room, and at least a water spray in the pool between the conservatory and aquarium. But there are a number of monuments [[statues) around the island.

I believe that the city wants to spend $50 million of their Federal American Rescue Plan money on the island.

It would be nice if the island got some of the $1.2 billion of the Ralph Wilson Foundation money [[which is paying for the west riverfront park).

The city leased the park to the state,with the exception of the greenhouses they cannot spend $50 million from the rescue plan.

Because they leased it out for 30 years they do not have the legal authority to spend anything on it.

Here are the lease terms.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/snyder/Belle_Isle_Lease_397744_7.pdf

The whole reasoning behind leasing it out to the state as a state park was because at that time people decided the city could not afford it,so they turned it over to the state which includes all financial responsibilities for improvements,outside of the greenhouses.

You cannot say,I am giving this up because we do not have the funds to maintain it then a few years later say,we found this 50 million to spend on it now we want to have a say in it.

The city washed its hands from it financially,if there is an extra $50 million laying about there are maybe more pressing quality of life issues within the city.

The state receives all proceeds from anything that happens in the isle,events etc. so for the city to throw $50 million at it while expecting no return is like saying,everything else in the city priority wise is just fine and we have an extra $50 million to spend in surplus.

The state is in control of who does what and where and how.

The city may be able to donate $50 million to the state park system but the state park system would not be obligated to spend it on the isle.

As would most likely be the case with anybody else looking to put money into it.

[401don]

The city washed its hands from it financially,if there is an extra $50 million laying about there are maybe more pressing quality of life issues within the city.

It seems like half the announced spending in the rescue plan is "fun money". With all the necessary pandemic spending due to healthcare/slowing of the economy, you would think gov't would be a little more careful but instead gov'ts at all levels seem to be spending like drunken sailors the last few years and the debt be damned. It's the exact same in Canada. Yesterday we got free dental and prescriptions thrown in. Great! [[But then I don't have any kids to inherit the mess).

[expatriate]

There is the Antelope pond and fountain in the Conservatory garden.

[Zacha341]

Nice. I've never gone to this pond at the Isle. Looks nice from photos I found. Will check out soon!

https://www.google.com/search?source...&bih=610&dpr=1

There is the Antelope pond and fountain in the Conservatory garden.

[masterblaster]

There is the Antelope pond and fountain in the Conservatory garden.

I really wish they would bring back:

The old Lily Pond [[much, much larger than the tiny one smushed against a corner of the conservatory building) -

-Return Central Avenue to the tree-lined, pedestrian-only road that it originally was:

-Another poster said bring back the horses. I concur. My heart sunk when I heard the old stables are going to be rebuilt at Greenfield Village, as if Belle Isle doesn't exist anymore? The State DNR actually has experience with horse stables and horse riding at nearby Maybury State Park.

-The 9-hole golf course: make it into a permanent disc golf course

-Some kind of animals: the zoo existed across 3 CENTURIES from 1895-2001. Let's bring some element of that back, even if it is only the white-tailed deer pen and feeding them.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

I really wish they would bring back:

The old Lily Pond [[much, much larger than the tiny one smushed against a corner of the conservatory building) -

-Return Central Avenue to the tree-lined, pedestrian-only road that it originally was:

-Another poster said bring back the horses. I concur. My heart sunk when I heard the old stables are going to be rebuilt at Greenfield Village, as if Belle Isle doesn't exist anymore? The State DNR actually has experience with horse stables and horse riding at nearby Maybury State Park.

-The 9-hole golf course: make it into a permanent disc golf course

-Some kind of animals: the zoo existed across 3 CENTURIES from 1895-2001. Let's bring some element of that back, even if it is only the white-tailed deer pen and feeding them.

Link isn't available for Central Ave. The old lily pond looks fantastic.

[Kathleen]

The old lily pond looks fantastic.

Beautiful! Reminds me a bit of Monet's water lily pond in Giverny. Would love to see something like it here on Belle Isle!