Belle Isle begins transition toward state park

**Vic01** · December-10-13, 06:23 AM

time for a new thread to track the progress...

About three-dozen groups are committing time, talent and in some cases money to improving Belle Isle as the park transitions over the next two months from city to state control.
The state Department of Natural

Resources begins managing the 985-acre island park in the middle of the Detroit River in mid-February under a 30-year lease.

On Tuesday, agency Director Keith Creagh will introduce partnerships in revamping the park, which has seen a cutback in city repairs and maintenance as Detroit succumbed to debt and budget deficits. A federal judge last week allowed Detroit to become the largest U.S. city to enter bankruptcy.
The state budget sets aside $2.5 million for management of Belle Isle, but Creagh is looking for help from all quarters, whether through funding or sweat.
“It’s absolutely about the partners,” he said. “When people heard we were involved, they said, how could they be helpful?”

http://www.freep.com/article/2013121...036/1001/rss01

**detroitpride313** · December-10-13, 11:14 AM

Glad to see that so many groups are coming together to help Belle Isle. Hopefully, Gov. Snyder will come through on his promise of $10-$20 million of investment within the first 3 years of the state take over.

**Dan Wesson** · December-11-13, 05:23 AM

The resulting usage demographics should be interesting...

**Vic01** · December-11-13, 06:07 AM

"So far, more than 40 companies, government groups, trade and volunteer associations and others have pledged financial or other support, ranging from the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Wayne County Parks and Recreation, the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association and the National Parks Service".

"Michelle Hodges, president of Belle Isle Conservancy, called Tuesday a “milestone day” for the island, with commitments continuing to come in for major funding from individuals, corporations and philanthropic groups.
“We can’t be an island to ourselves if we expect to succeed,” Hodges said".

http://www.freep.com/article/2013121...ing-volunteers

Personally, I think that the Belle Isle Conservancy president's "can't be an island" comment speaks to the "usage demographics" quite well... It's a great thing to see Regional teamwork on this scale.

**Honky Tonk** · December-11-13, 09:12 AM

I drove around Belle Isle yesterday on the way home from work to check up on the States work. They've felled a lot of dead and diseased trees, and are in the process of clearing all those branches that have been piling up over the years. Low and behold, I do believe they even have one of the rest rooms up and running again. All the work is basic and preliminary so far, but it did seem they are moving right along.......

**Zug** · December-11-13, 10:29 AM

Why didn't these companies and agencies pledge money and volunteers when the city was operating the park? I supported the state takeover, so I'm not complaining or anything. But it does seem weird that as soon as the state takes over, people are tripping over themselves to fix Belle Isle.

Or am I completely misunderstanding these types of articles and there was already support?

**Zug** · December-11-13, 10:31 AM

Also, it's interesting to see the article stating the city will save $4 million/year, when all they said prior to the takeover was $6 million.

**bailey** · December-11-13, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Zug

Why didn't these companies and agencies pledge money and volunteers when the city was operating the park? I supported the state takeover, so I'm not complaining or anything. But it does seem weird that as soon as the state takes over, people are tripping over themselves to fix Belle Isle.

You really need to ask that question?

**Zug** · December-11-13, 11:14 AM

Yes I do. I can always assume either some general "they didn't want to help Detroiters" reason or a "Detroit would mismanage it" reason...but there might be specifics I don't know. Someone might say a national agency can more easily assist a state park than a city park [[don't know if true, just a hypothetical), or something.

**Johnnny5** · December-11-13, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Zug

Why didn't these companies and agencies pledge money and volunteers when the city was operating the park? I supported the state takeover, so I'm not complaining or anything. But it does seem weird that as soon as the state takes over, people are tripping over themselves to fix Belle Isle.

Or am I completely misunderstanding these types of articles and there was already support?

I think the biggest difference now is the added publicly they will be receiving. Many volunteer their time and money really more for their own good than for the good of the cause. If a company donates money they want everyone to know about it. That's why their logos are emblazoned on banners and donated t-shirts and they expect to see praise for their actions from the media.

On top of that, outsiders now have hope that their efforts may no longer be in vain. Before you could spend time and money restoring or replacing something just to see it stolen, vandalized or unmaintained soon thereafter. Hopefully with better maintenance and law enforcement this will no longer be a major issue.

**Detroitnerd** · December-11-13, 01:01 PM

It will be so nice. Now people from Birmingham will be able to use it, should they choose, without all those unsightly black pe--- er, I mean, all that LITTER! Ahem.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · December-11-13, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Zug

Why didn't these companies and agencies pledge money and volunteers when the city was operating the park? I supported the state takeover, so I'm not complaining or anything. But it does seem weird that as soon as the state takes over, people are tripping over themselves to fix Belle Isle.

Or am I completely misunderstanding these types of articles and there was already support?

I would say its a combination of issues. There have been groups and volunteers working to improve the island for quite some time. But I do suppose that others were reluctant to provide aid due to a lack of faith in how the city was running things. I'll go ahead and mix some metaphors here - there are always those who will "tilt against windmills" - the stalwarts who have been doggedly trying to improve the city even as it declined, such as the friends of Belle Isle. Now that people think that the state will better manage and improve Belle Isle than the city could, we have the "jump on the bandwagon" folks. They see a corner having been turned, and now are more willing to step up to the plate.

I'm less concerned about anyone's motivation than I am glad to hear of aid, improvements, investment and development anywhere in the city, including Belle Isle.

I'm very glad to know that the state is already clearing overgrowth and dead, dying and dangerous trees. To any one who visits the island: pics are always welcomed, especially by those of us outside of the area!

**Zug** · December-11-13, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the responses. The things posted make sense.

I decided to drive through Belle Isle on my lunch break. I did not realize there were so many dead trees. They have cut down a lot. And seeing the hollowed out centers of the trees, I see it was needed.

On another note. Does anyone know what one-time entry will cost? Like, if an out of state visitor comes to Detroit, they're not going to have a state parks passport. I've never visited a state park in my adulthood, so I don't know how the other parks do it. I was looking at the DNR website and some of the news articles and cannot find any information [[maybe I'm looking in the wrong place).

**RO_Resident** · December-11-13, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

I would say its a combination of issues. There have been groups and volunteers working to improve the island for quite some time. But I do suppose that others were reluctant to provide aid due to a lack of faith in how the city was running things. I'll go ahead and mix some metaphors here - there are always those who will "tilt against windmills" - the stalwarts who have been doggedly trying to improve the city even as it declined, such as the friends of Belle Isle. Now that people think that the state will better manage and improve Belle Isle than the city could, we have the "jump on the bandwagon" folks. They see a corner having been turned, and now are more willing to step up to the plate.

I'm less concerned about anyone's motivation than I am glad to hear of aid, improvements, investment and development anywhere in the city, including Belle Isle.

I'm very glad to know that the state is already clearing overgrowth and dead, dying and dangerous trees. To any one who visits the island: pics are always welcomed, especially by those of us outside of the area!

To add to this, most volunteer groups seem to do best with a) a champion, b) a crisis, and c) a good way to get the message out.

Working with park groups throughout the region, I have seen parks that have been able to get 100 people out for cleanup when there is a perceived threat [[or opportunity) in the future. The next year, with the crisis averted, you get the 5 core people, and another 5 people who are motivated to help.

**jackie5275** · December-11-13, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Zug

On another note. Does anyone know what one-time entry will cost?

It's $6/day for state parks, but I think they were talking about $3 or $4 for Belle Isle.

**professorscott** · December-11-13, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by jackie5275

It's $6/day for state parks, but I think they were talking about $3 or $4 for Belle Isle.

And no charge if you're riding in on public transportation, which is specifically in the contract, ignoring the inconvenient fact that there hasn't been any public transportation to Belle Isle in a few years.

**Detroitnerd** · December-11-13, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by professorscott

And no charge if you're riding in on public transportation, which is specifically in the contract, ignoring the inconvenient fact that there hasn't been any public transportation to Belle Isle in a few years.

Man, the more I think I've seen the most ridiculous thing ever in this town, it finds a way to surprise me ... SMH

**Gannon** · December-11-13, 06:06 PM

This is at least the second time he's had to remind us of this fact...

<you rock, professorscott>

**noise** · December-11-13, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

It will be so nice. Now people from Birmingham will be able to use it, should they choose, without all those unsightly black pe--- er, I mean, all that LITTER! Ahem.

Or, at least immediately, less litter, less dead trees, and working restrooms.

But that's not a politically convenient answer, I know.

**corktownyuppie** · December-11-13, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Zug

Why didn't these companies and agencies pledge money and volunteers when the city was operating the park? I supported the state takeover, so I'm not complaining or anything. But it does seem weird that as soon as the state takes over, people are tripping over themselves to fix Belle Isle.

Or am I completely misunderstanding these types of articles and there was already support?

Political Leadership.

There has always been support. The Belle Isle Conservancy has been working triple overtime doing fundraising, volunteer resources, etc.

Had the city put together a plan at any time in the last 20 years where the political leaders could all rally around it, then proceed to throw money into it, fixing the problems and polishing the jewel, it would have happened.

In a lot of ways, what Detroiters don't understand is that financial strength and political leadership make things happen. For example, when you're building a strip mall, you need an anchor tenant, a company whose name is so powerful that it lends confidence to smaller companies who might be interested in renting space around it.

When there's no anchor tenant, it's very risky for anyone to publicly say that they're on board with a project that is still not certain to succeed. An anchor tenant signs a lease -- and then all of a sudden -- it's safe to jump on to the bandwagon.

The State of Michigan and the DNR is that anchor tenant.

Or at least I hope that Detroit leadership didn't understand that. Because the other option is that they did understand it but decided that local political loyalties were more important...which is a far worse error, in my opinion.

**canuck** · December-11-13, 09:42 PM

A lot of good stuff is happening incrementally in Detroit these days. Speriamus meliora.

**MSUguy** · December-12-13, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Or at least I hope that Detroit leadership didn't understand that. Because the other option is that they did understand it but decided that local political loyalties were more important...which is a far worse error, in my opinion.

I'd say it's definitely the latter. How else do you explain the city's ability after the failed riverfront casino plan, to rally the necessary partners in order to create the riverwalk. But their inability to do for Belle Isle?

**jerrytimes** · December-12-13, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

It will be so nice. Now people from Birmingham will be able to use it, should they choose, without all those unsightly black pe--- er, I mean, all that LITTER! Ahem.

Another ignorant comment.

**BagAJellyDonuts** · December-13-13, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Zug

Thanks for the responses. The things posted make sense.

I decided to drive through Belle Isle on my lunch break. I did not realize there were so many dead trees. They have cut down a lot. And seeing the hollowed out centers of the trees, I see it was needed.

On another note. Does anyone know what one-time entry will cost? Like, if an out of state visitor comes to Detroit, they're not going to have a state parks passport. I've never visited a state park in my adulthood, so I don't know how the other parks do it. I was looking at the DNR website and some of the news articles and cannot find any information [[maybe I'm looking in the wrong place).

The article I read about the island says that entry will be allowed up to the time your current license plate expires. IOW, if your plate is a January plate, you will have to pay the "subscription" soon, but if your plate is September for instance, you will be able to go free until that time. I could be wrong but that's the way I understand what's happening.

The other big question is about who is going to patrol the island. I'm assuming that the state will bring on it's own team. Some might not like that but it would free Detroit Police to work the city.

**sumas** · December-13-13, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

I would say its a combination of issues. There have been groups and volunteers working to improve the island for quite some time. But I do suppose that others were reluctant to provide aid due to a lack of faith in how the city was running things. I'll go ahead and mix some metaphors here - there are always those who will "tilt against windmills" - the stalwarts who have been doggedly trying to improve the city even as it declined, such as the friends of Belle Isle. Now that people think that the state will better manage and improve Belle Isle than the city could, we have the "jump on the bandwagon" folks. They see a corner having been turned, and now are more willing to step up to the plate.

I'm less concerned about anyone's motivation than I am glad to hear of aid, improvements, investment and development anywhere in the city, including Belle Isle.

I'm very glad to know that the state is already clearing overgrowth and dead, dying and dangerous trees. To any one who visits the island: pics are always welcomed, especially by those of us outside of the area!

You're a sweetheart, mostly no one seems to have a clue how many volunteer groups worked to save little bits of our Heritage Island including trying to save then reopening the very historic Aquarium, for the past twenty years. Just a few come readily to mind: Friends of Belle Isle. Friends of the Detroit River, Detroit Garden Center, Grosse Pointe Garden Club and too many others to list. Fish didn't mean much to city officials, who could care less about its historical significance but the conservatory which provided free flowers to city officials was saved. Hummmm!

I haven't gone back to the Aquarium since it reopened, what can they offer now, guppies??