Belle Isle State Park

**oldtvsandtoys** · February-10-14, 05:39 PM

Now that Belle Isle is a state park, will the state fix the Scott Fountain and get the fish aquarium running again?

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-10-14, 05:49 PM

I hope they fix the fountain. I would be surprised if they didn't [[although to be honest I have NO IDEA what that costs). As for the aquarium, uh, well. It's not a great aquarium. It wasn't when I was a kid, it isn't now. I would rather see the cool building repurposed and an effort made to build a big aquarium elsewhere in the city. A good aquarium shouldn't be small; it absolutely can't be done on a shoestring. As it is, the BIA is something that one might visit if walking by. I don't think it warrants anyone going out of their way to visit, except for those of us with some nostalgia for it.

**mwilbert** · February-10-14, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I hope they fix the fountain. I would be surprised if they didn't [[although to be honest I have NO IDEA what that costs). As for the aquarium, uh, well. It's not a great aquarium. It wasn't when I was a kid, it isn't now. I would rather see the cool building repurposed and an effort made to build a big aquarium elsewhere in the city. A good aquarium shouldn't be small; it absolutely can't be done on a shoestring. As it is, the BIA is something that one might visit if walking by. I don't think it warrants anyone going out of their way to visit, except for those of us with some nostalgia for it.

I disagree about the aquarium. Maybe someday Detroit will have a more modern aquarium, but it doesn't and probably won't for the foreseeable future, and in the meantime the old aquarium is much better than nothing. Also, it doesn't have to be a destination in itself--people go to Belle Isle anyway, once you are there you might go to the aquarium and/or the conservatory.

**rb336** · February-10-14, 06:01 PM

The aquarium is open again, although I have no idea what fish are there other than the electric eels

**Pam** · February-10-14, 08:04 PM

http://belleisleconservancy.org/

**renf** · February-10-14, 08:14 PM

Personally, I think the Belle Isle Aquarium is a great and historically significant building. It has potential to be a feature of the revived Belle Isle.

**downtownguy** · February-10-14, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

I disagree about the aquarium. Maybe someday Detroit will have a more modern aquarium, but it doesn't and probably won't for the foreseeable future, and in the meantime the old aquarium is much better than nothing. Also, it doesn't have to be a destination in itself--people go to Belle Isle anyway, once you are there you might go to the aquarium and/or the conservatory.

+1. Agree completely. They're not pretending to be the National Aquarium or the Audubon Aquarium of Americas. It's a 110 year structure designed by Albert Kahn that is uniquely Detroit. It's size and scale is perfect for Belle Isle. Obviously, based on it's resurrection many people think it is worthwhile.

**subsidized** · February-10-14, 10:00 PM

I hear the DNR plans on demolishing the zoo to put in a children's play area.

**Danny** · February-10-14, 10:19 PM

Are we going to have a DYES picnic at Belle Isle State Park this year? I'm sure to see the park beautiful again just like it did back in 1900.

**old guy** · February-11-14, 02:57 AM

Despite its size or current condition, I'd think that what from what I understand that it's the oldest public aquarium in America, the Belle Isle Aquarium would be a great asset to the island. How could you not want to save or restore something of that significance.
People worry about tearing down historical buildings downtown, and I agree with that, but why let something like this fall by the wayside. Large or small, what a wonderful asset to this beautiful island.
I'd think there would be people all over the country that would get behind and help preserve something this historical if it was presented correctly. Maybe something that appears to be a small blip on the radar, but I think it's something of great significance to a great number of people throughout the country that are possibly unaware of it and treasure historical aquariums. It would be a shame to see it lost like so many other Detroit treasures.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so with this one.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-11-14, 08:01 AM

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the building and the need for an aquarium. I just think it is not really meeting the needs of the region in regards to an aquarium, and as such is a bit of a waste of the beautiful building. I am not championing its downfall. Being a small aquarium, with an even smaller collection of fish, and open a handful of hours does not make for much of an asset. It is not on par with the Conservatory. Reusing the building to offer badly needed concessions [[food, sporting good rentals, etc), or as a base for day camps and tours of the island would allow a great many more people to experience the architecture while hardly reducing the number of people seeing the aquarium [[realistically, how many people are visiting during the several hours a day it is open on Saturday?). I love aquariums; I want Detroit to have an amazing one. Currently, we have a token aquarium, with a few fish and a few visitors. But the building is an asset.

**Gistok** · February-11-14, 09:24 AM

For an aquarium to be amazing it would require it being mainly a saltwater aquarium. The Great Lakes ecosystem just doesn't support a very exciting group of species when presented in an aquarium setting. And for that the Belle Isle aquarium provides a decent enough setting.

**Honky Tonk** · February-11-14, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the building and the need for an aquarium. I just think it is not really meeting the needs of the region in regards to an aquarium, and as such is a bit of a waste of the beautiful building. I am not championing its downfall. Being a small aquarium, with an even smaller collection of fish, and open a handful of hours does not make for much of an asset. It is not on par with the Conservatory. Reusing the building to offer badly needed concessions [[food, sporting good rentals, etc), or as a base for day camps and tours of the island would allow a great many more people to experience the architecture while hardly reducing the number of people seeing the aquarium [[realistically, how many people are visiting during the several hours a day it is open on Saturday?). I love aquariums; I want Detroit to have an amazing one. Currently, we have a token aquarium, with a few fish and a few visitors. But the building is an asset.

For crying out loud. This isn't Seaworld, and there's no Shamoo. It 's the oldest aquarium in America, and what, you want to turn it into a Hopcat? Next time you're there, before you go in, STOP, take a deep breath, and just look @ the architecture. Look @ the tile inside, the layout. I'm so sorry you didn't like it as a kid. When my parents took me there, I was pretty fascinated with it. I bet half the kids in the Metro-Detroit area have never seen a fish other then on a Dizzyworld cartoon. I remember it being packed around the electric eel @ feeding time. The pond between the aquarium and the conservatory is stocked with Koi. Simple pleasures are the best. Leave the cell in the car. You don't have to "like" eveything.

**bailey** · February-11-14, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

For crying out loud. This isn't Seaworld, and there's no Shamoo. It 's the oldest aquarium in America, and what, you want to turn it into a Hopcat? Next time you're there, before you go in, STOP, take a deep breath, and just look @ the architecture. Look @ the tile inside, the layout. I'm so sorry you didn't like it as a kid. When my parents took me there, I was pretty fascinated with it. I bet half the kids in the Metro-Detroit area have never seen a fish other then on a Dizzyworld cartoon. I remember it being packed around the electric eel @ feeding time. The pond between the aquarium and the conservatory is stocked with Koi. Simple pleasures are the best. Leave the cell in the car. You don't have to "like" eveything.

Totally agree [[and I totally remember the electric eel thing) However, it is an aquarium first, and an old building second. If it's going to survive it needs to have the aquarium part attracting people. Hopefully with the state injecting money it can get back to full operations, but if this is the best it can do, it's not looking too likely.

**Trumpeteer** · February-11-14, 10:55 AM

Maybe some of you who are advocating a re-use of this beautiful aquarium or are even ignorant to the fact that it's open and improving every day should actually VISIT the aquarium?? Someone please go ahead and build a "world class aquarium" somewhere else and leave this historic functioning aquarium to those who continue to support it and actually visit it.

**Honky Tonk** · February-11-14, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

Totally agree [[and I totally remember the electric eel thing) However, it is an aquarium first, and an old building second. If it's going to survive it needs to have the aquarium part attracting people. Hopefully with the state injecting money it can get back to full operations, but if this is the best it can do, it's not looking too likely.

It's not the "best" it can do. Right now it's manned by volunteers working on a shoestring, [[broken and tied together) budget. And, yes, it does need to have a series of monetary injections in order to remedy the dysfunction. Remember the small seahorse tank halfway in the back? Fascinating creatures.

**Honky Tonk** · February-11-14, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Maybe some of you who are advocating a re-use of this beautiful aquarium or are even ignorant to the fact that it's open and improving every day should actually VISIT the aquarium?? Someone please go ahead and build a "world class aquarium" somewhere else and leave this historic functioning aquarium to those who continue to support it and actually visit it.

And may I add, drop a $20 into the barrel? The mere price of one of those Crap Beers......

**Trumpeteer** · February-11-14, 11:02 AM

That's what I mean by "support".

**Pam** · February-11-14, 11:31 AM

From the link above, donating/volunteering info:

https://belleisleconservancy.org/get...ved/donations/

**downtownguy** · February-11-14, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the building and the need for an aquarium. I just think it is not really meeting the needs of the region in regards to an aquarium, and as such is a bit of a waste of the beautiful building. I am not championing its downfall. Being a small aquarium, with an even smaller collection of fish, and open a handful of hours does not make for much of an asset. It is not on par with the Conservatory. Reusing the building to offer badly needed concessions [[food, sporting good rentals, etc), or as a base for day camps and tours of the island would allow a great many more people to experience the architecture while hardly reducing the number of people seeing the aquarium [[realistically, how many people are visiting during the several hours a day it is open on Saturday?). I love aquariums; I want Detroit to have an amazing one. Currently, we have a token aquarium, with a few fish and a few visitors. But the building is an asset.

Well, if we're going to turn it into a concession stand, why not add some golden arches, too? You probably think the old Michigan Theatre is better as a garage, too, because who needs more theaters downtown, right?

Then there's the Sibley House or the Moross House on Jefferson. Sure, they're historic, but who needs more houses when the population is declining? So let's re-purpose them as 7-11s.

A large aquarium has been talked about in Detroit for decades. If you get your wish and somehow we manage to attract one, why can't it co-exist with the Belle Isle Aquarium?

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-11-14, 11:39 AM

HonkyTonk, did you even read my post? I praised the architecture and stated emphatically that converting it from a Potemkin aquarium open a few hours a week into something that would have more users all week long is a better tribute to it's architecture and history than pretending we have an aquarium, which is a shadow of it's former [[even then thin) self. I appreciate the nostalgia for it. I have wonderful memories of the Olympia Stadium; that doesn't mean the Wings should still be playing there. Nostalgia is an emotion, not a logical argument. A tiny, unimpressive aquarium that is almost always closed is not a sensible use of a great old building on an island with very limited capacity for further buildings. The island, at least in nice weather, gets thousands of visitors a day. On the one day a week the aquarium is open, it's patronized by just a fraction of them. I think there could be a use for the building that could enhance the park-going experience for thousands. Not the odd, 15-minute diversion for dozens twenty hours a month. I say: save the building and do something useful with it; make other plans for an aquarium.

**Detroitnerd** · February-11-14, 11:48 AM

So, everybody enjoying the park without all the poor people?

They were smart to institute it during the coldest time of the year. I can't wait until that first hot day when people try getting on the island and are PISSED. By then they'll probably have a Starbucks at the Casino.

Yay! Income-based segregation is color-blind and progressive!

**bailey** · February-11-14, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

HonkyTonk, did you even read my post? I praised the architecture and stated emphatically that converting it from a Potemkin aquarium open a few hours a week into something that would have more users all week long is a better tribute to it's architecture and history than pretending we have an aquarium, which is a shadow of it's former [[even then thin) self. I appreciate the nostalgia for it. I have wonderful memories of the Olympia Stadium; that doesn't mean the Wings should still be playing there. Nostalgia is an emotion, not a logical argument. A tiny, unimpressive aquarium that is almost always closed is not a sensible use of a great old building on an island with very limited capacity for further buildings. The island, at least in nice weather, gets thousands of visitors a day. On the one day a week the aquarium is open, it's patronized by just a fraction of them. I think there could be a use for the building that could enhance the park-going experience for thousands. Not the odd, 15-minute diversion for dozens twenty hours a month. I say: save the building and do something useful with it; make other plans for an aquarium.

I think the point you're missing here is that the aquarium as it is now [[open for 5 hours once a week) is not the final product. This is step one. hopefully with the state taking the reigns, funding will be available to bring it back to full operation.

it's never going to be Schedd there is no need for it to be. If it can just get back to what it was before the money ran out and its closure, it'll be fine. It'll return to being a destination for fieldtrips and family outings and be local draw...not a national one.

**Eber Brock Ward** · February-11-14, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

So, everybody enjoying the park without all the poor people?

They were smart to institute it during the coldest time of the year. I can't wait until that first hot day when people try getting on the island and are PISSED. By then they'll probably have a Starbucks at the Casino.

Yay! Income-based segregation is color-blind and progressive!

You can still get onto the island for free via bus, walking, or bike.

And if you can afford a car and gas, maintenance, bbqing supplies and all that, then you can afford the $11.

Bad effort this time.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-11-14, 12:06 PM

Detroitnerd, who owns a car and can't afford a once-a-year $11 fee? And if you're arriving by means other than a car, you don't have to pay it at all. The park will be patronized by just as many Detroiters as before. Like before, there will be black and white people there, people with money, people without. There may be more suburbanites, too, but not less Detroiters. Save the protests for actual problems, please.