pictures
Grand Prix on Belle Isle?
Hi,
Couldn't find a search engine on the site, so I hope I am not repeating what someone has already addressed.
I'm the Facebook admin for "Belle Isle Aquarium, friends of" and I'm getting a fair amount of traffic from people vehemently objecting to the public disruption on Belle Isle by the annual Grand Prix during the summer.
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Renowned Photographer Skip Davis and writer Sandra Novacek have created a FB forum, "Belle Isle: Park or Racetrack?" in an attempt to rally the citizenry in order to have the Grand Prix moved to another location.
The Belle Isle Advisory Committee is meeting this Thursday, November 19th from 9-11 am at the Outdoor Adventure Center 1801 Atwater in Detroit, and there is a move afoot to protest the Grand Prix on Belle Isle at this time.
The Free Press has also touched on the subject in the recent past.
Race is no benefit to Detroit
Detroit has no revenue benefit from the races on Belle Isle.
See the following:
Revenue contract from Penske to city recreation dept.
$150,000 2012
$175,000 2013
$200,000 2014
Expenditure contract from DPW to “improve circuit" track on Belle Isle
$225,000 2012
$150,000 2013
$150,000 2014
Total expenditure by Detroit =$525,000
Total revenue from Penske=$525,000
Michigan MDOT spent over 4 million dollars [[our money) on the circuit improvements on Belle Isle.
Why should the people of Michigan foot the bill for a race track for a billionaire?
Also, last weekend there were drag races on Belle Isle next to the fountain by a group of muscle car fans.
This park used to be tranquil, peaceful. but not any more. When these car clubs find they can do wheelies and donuts on The Belle Isle Raceway, it is no longer the people's park!