Belle Isle: WHEN are the bathrooms going to be fixed?!?!

**corktownyuppie** · April-18-14, 10:33 AM

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Now. "The DNR has posted a video on YouTube that shows crews making key infrastructure improvements on Bell Isle, including long-needed repairs to restrooms -- fixing leaking pipes, broken water lines, broken fixtures, and adding heating units and painting walls.

One of the video's arresting images is water running out of several pipes in a nasty restroom."

http://deadlinedetroit.com/articles/...e#.U1FFJfldXKg

**Hamtragedy** · April-18-14, 10:49 AM

Remember too, that frozen water will break toilets, so most of the damage is from neglect, not vandalism.

**DetroitPlanner** · April-18-14, 10:53 AM

Either heat the bathrooms or put in pits.

**Lowell** · April-18-14, 11:44 AM

I did a drive-about and walkabout last Sunday. Other than some trees removed I did not see anything fixed. Obviously I didn't look everywhere and hopefully something is being done.

I know they have lead time and by now a routine, but what the Grand Prix has done in set up in the last month or seems to dwarf the DNR efforts.

Grand Prix:

ItsJeff bench, overflowing trash can [clearly from last summer].

I notice that the spring clean up is coming April 26, 2014 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm as advertised here.

I'm wondering if the DNR will have ways to energize this maintain pick up.

**Johnnny5** · April-18-14, 01:01 PM

Not sure about Belle Isle, but most State Parks seem to be short staffed this time of year. The regular maintenance at the parks near me really starts to pick up when the seasonal employees [[Mostly college and high school students) are around.

**Gannon** · April-18-14, 01:30 PM

They need to coordinate better between the Gran Prix setup folks and the stump removal teams. Today, they've cut off the easier access to the trees removed by the fountain and the casino, and then again to the water...with those barriers.

I daresay they should've resurfaced the entire track before putting them up again...no way they can run the race on the frost-heaved streets as they are now.

One shelter on the far south side was getting a whole tear-down roof...with sections in the middle rebuilt. They seem to be doing it right, not just throwing a new top over whatever rot.

The overall traffic was up today by a good margin.

I wish they'd have public-access days on the Gran Prix track, once it is closed. I'm sure the fence company dudes putting up the retaining cabling would like to give it a run...

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · April-18-14, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Now.

[/FONT][/COLOR]

http://deadlinedetroit.com/articles/...e#.U1FFJfldXKg

Yes, but they say they're also fixing up the WHITE house. That must have racial overtones.....

**Honky Tonk** · April-18-14, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

I did a drive-about and walkabout last Sunday. Other than some trees removed I did not see anything fixed. Obviously I didn't look everywhere and hopefully something is being done.

I know they have lead time and by now a routine, but what the Grand Prix has done in set up in the last month or seems to dwarf the DNR efforts.

Grand Prix:

ItsJeff bench, overflowing trash can [clearly from last summer].

I notice that the spring clean up is coming April 26, 2014 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm as advertised here.

I'm wondering if the DNR will have ways to energize this maintain pick up.

If I were you, I'd shoot an e-mail off to y'all's boy Roger Penske, since he got a sweetheart deal to be able to run the GP on Belle Isle in exchange for picking up the trash. ALL the cans were pretty full a few days ago. I chalked it up to the deep snow covering the island most of the Winter. On yesterdays tour, I did noticed a lot of the snow had melted. Perhaps Mr. Penske can't see the trashcans because those concrete barriers and grandstands are obstructing the view?

**ABetterDetroit** · April-18-14, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

I did a drive-about and walkabout last Sunday. Other than some trees removed I did not see anything fixed. Obviously I didn't look everywhere and hopefully something is being done.

I know they have lead time and by now a routine, but what the Grand Prix has done in set up in the last month or seems to dwarf the DNR efforts.

Grand Prix:

ItsJeff bench, overflowing trash can [clearly from last summer].

I notice that the spring clean up is coming April 26, 2014 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm as advertised here.

I'm wondering if the DNR will have ways to energize this maintain pick up.

Privite sector planned for a year in advance VS. state government still doing their "analysis" is not really fair. You have to give the state a little time on this, remember they are the same folks whose leader thought that "cool cities" was the answer to the depression that hit this state. They're not bankrupt, but they are still government.

**old guy** · April-18-14, 11:51 PM

ItsJeff bench. No offense to the locals, but I could make that look about 250% nicer in about 20 minutes and probably burn a few hundred calories to boot.
I don't mean to sound crass, but wow, that's pathetic.
Maybe I'm naive and you'd get arrested for doing a little clean up like that. I guess as an outsider I just don't understand Detroit logic at times. Love the city, just don't understand why people don't take more pride in making it look better. Feel free to beat me up for this statement. I'm sure there's a lot I don't understand.

**canuck** · April-19-14, 07:10 AM

I dont know, Old Guy. Right now, the entire city of Montreal looks like a giant dump after this long winter. I feel upset at the lack of care but it is not unique to the D.

In Montreal, you can get a heavy fine for throwing a cigarette on the sidewalk. Well guess what? Now that the snow has cleared all you see is cigarette butts around bldgs everywhere. Dont get me started on dogshit. I cant fathom why people buy these expensive dogs to show off but wont pick up after them.

I was in Toronto a couple of weekends ago, and there was a lot of trash on the streets and sidewalks too, it's a spring thing and not just particular to Detroit my friend.

**Gannon** · April-20-14, 11:36 AM

My darlin' and I went around for a lap on Friday night...my first Friday in many years, decades perhaps. I'd been groomed to avoid the mess of the strand just west of the Coast Guard station, too much randomness. Friday and Saturday evenings were the only two times I avoided the island.

The cruising traffic was up, and I was surprised to see many people speeding...the sunset was incredible, it was perfect for a slow-roll. But two state boys had a couple emptying out their trunk, not far from the casino...surely that was a buzz-clamp for the middle-aged black couple, meeting up with white-faced authority. I'm sure whatever they did to get pulled over warranted them emptying their entire fucking trunk. With double-trooper supervision...it looked like they were bullying two folks out for a romantic eve.

Then again, on the way out, another couple of rangers had another car-full of young black kids pulled over, more folks learning that Belle Isle is no longer a welcome place. Again, two vehicles in a great show of overwhelming force...

Neither of these cars were what I'd deem troublemakers, but I'm sure the white-faced authoritarians will have trite comments in their reports as to how necessary it was to totally fuck up their nights.

I've seen a concerted effort through the media to put the lid back on this Pandora's box of kindling. 'Blah-blah, it is good to have the state finally paying attention to this gem.' Right.

This is going to get worse as the weather improves...the state acquiesced on shutting down the island for those 4 days in September, let's hope they keep learning how not to destroy what has largely been a peaceful gathering place. Not sure if there've been any disturbances since 1943, but it seems the white-faced authoritarians want to foment one.

I'm ready for all y'all law-n-order types to drop in and try to dig more from my words than I intend, I'm merely describing what I see. Both my gal and I were troubled by the apparent over-use of force...searching for crap well beyond what should have simply been a initial offense introduction and warning.

This is heavy-handed and will backfire on the State and all of those who think the law is always right. Sometimes the law merely codifies and institutionalizes bully behavior.

**piczka** · April-20-14, 05:12 PM

Gannon,

The police were simply on an Easter Egg Hunt!

**corktownyuppie** · April-20-14, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

I'd been groomed to avoid the mess of the strand just west of the Coast Guard station, too much randomness. Friday and Saturday evenings were the only two times I avoided the island.

I'm not sure I get what you mean...what kind of randomness were you avoiding on Friday and Saturday nights?

**ABetterDetroit** · April-20-14, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

My darlin' and I went around for a lap on Friday night...my first Friday in many years, decades perhaps. I'd been groomed to avoid the mess of the strand just west of the Coast Guard station, too much randomness. Friday and Saturday evenings were the only two times I avoided the island.

The cruising traffic was up, and I was surprised to see many people speeding...the sunset was incredible, it was perfect for a slow-roll. But two state boys had a couple emptying out their trunk, not far from the casino...surely that was a buzz-clamp for the middle-aged black couple, meeting up with white-faced authority. I'm sure whatever they did to get pulled over warranted them emptying their entire fucking trunk. With double-trooper supervision...it looked like they were bullying two folks out for a romantic eve.

Then again, on the way out, another couple of rangers had another car-full of young black kids pulled over, more folks learning that Belle Isle is no longer a welcome place. Again, two vehicles in a great show of overwhelming force...

Neither of these cars were what I'd deem troublemakers, but I'm sure the white-faced authoritarians will have trite comments in their reports as to how necessary it was to totally fuck up their nights.

I've seen a concerted effort through the media to put the lid back on this Pandora's box of kindling. 'Blah-blah, it is good to have the state finally paying attention to this gem.' Right.

This is going to get worse as the weather improves...the state acquiesced on shutting down the island for those 4 days in September, let's hope they keep learning how not to destroy what has largely been a peaceful gathering place. Not sure if there've been any disturbances since 1943, but it seems the white-faced authoritarians want to foment one.

I'm ready for all y'all law-n-order types to drop in and try to dig more from my words than I intend, I'm merely describing what I see. Both my gal and I were troubled by the apparent over-use of force...searching for crap well beyond what should have simply been a initial offense introduction and warning.

This is heavy-handed and will backfire on the State and all of those who think the law is always right. Sometimes the law merely codifies and institutionalizes bully behavior.

As someone that has a bad habit of driving to fast some times on empty roads I can tell you that all police forces are not the same. If you think that the Michigan state police are going to help you clean up the liquor bottles off the floor and check your pot card and send you on your way, you will be sadly mistaken. They have been notoriously following the letter of the law very strictly for a long time and have never really been into friendly warnings style of enforcement. MSP are a equal opportunity tough police force to deal with if you have broken a law period.

**Honky Tonk** · April-20-14, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

My darlin' and I went around for a lap on Friday night...my first Friday in many years, decades perhaps. I'd been groomed to avoid the mess of the strand just west of the Coast Guard station, too much randomness. Friday and Saturday evenings were the only two times I avoided the island.

The cruising traffic was up, and I was surprised to see many people speeding...the sunset was incredible, it was perfect for a slow-roll. But two state boys had a couple emptying out their trunk, not far from the casino...surely that was a buzz-clamp for the middle-aged black couple, meeting up with white-faced authority. I'm sure whatever they did to get pulled over warranted them emptying their entire fucking trunk. With double-trooper supervision...it looked like they were bullying two folks out for a romantic eve.

Then again, on the way out, another couple of rangers had another car-full of young black kids pulled over, more folks learning that Belle Isle is no longer a welcome place. Again, two vehicles in a great show of overwhelming force...

Neither of these cars were what I'd deem troublemakers, but I'm sure the white-faced authoritarians will have trite comments in their reports as to how necessary it was to totally fuck up their nights.

I've seen a concerted effort through the media to put the lid back on this Pandora's box of kindling. 'Blah-blah, it is good to have the state finally paying attention to this gem.' Right.

This is going to get worse as the weather improves...the state acquiesced on shutting down the island for those 4 days in September, let's hope they keep learning how not to destroy what has largely been a peaceful gathering place. Not sure if there've been any disturbances since 1943, but it seems the white-faced authoritarians want to foment one.

I'm ready for all y'all law-n-order types to drop in and try to dig more from my words than I intend, I'm merely describing what I see. Both my gal and I were troubled by the apparent over-use of force...searching for crap well beyond what should have simply been a initial offense introduction and warning.

This is heavy-handed and will backfire on the State and all of those who think the law is always right. Sometimes the law merely codifies and institutionalizes bully behavior.

Huh, And when you ran both sets of plates through, you found nothing?

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · April-20-14, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Huh, And when you ran both sets of plates through, you found nothing?

Not only did he find nothing, but he knows exactly why they were stopped. Mighty keen powers of observation. Funny, when I see someone pulled over I seldom, if ever know the reason for it.

**townonenorth** · April-20-14, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Not only did he find nothing, but he knows exactly why they were stopped. Mighty keen powers of observation. Funny, when I see someone pulled over I seldom, if ever know the reason for it.

Not to mention he used the term "white faced authority" three times in his blathering screed. He must really be proud to invent that useless phrase.

He's so proud of that
feels it's so nice
he had to go
and use it thrice.

**Wesley Mouch** · April-20-14, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

My darlin' and I went around for a lap on Friday night...my first Friday in many years, decades perhaps. I'd been groomed to avoid the mess of the strand just west of the Coast Guard station, too much randomness. Friday and Saturday evenings were the only two times I avoided the island.

The cruising traffic was up, and I was surprised to see many people speeding...the sunset was incredible, it was perfect for a slow-roll. But two state boys had a couple emptying out their trunk, not far from the casino...surely that was a buzz-clamp for the middle-aged black couple, meeting up with white-faced authority. I'm sure whatever they did to get pulled over warranted them emptying their entire fucking trunk. With double-trooper supervision...it looked like they were bullying two folks out for a romantic eve.

Then again, on the way out, another couple of rangers had another car-full of young black kids pulled over, more folks learning that Belle Isle is no longer a welcome place. Again, two vehicles in a great show of overwhelming force...

Neither of these cars were what I'd deem troublemakers, but I'm sure the white-faced authoritarians will have trite comments in their reports as to how necessary it was to totally fuck up their nights.

I've seen a concerted effort through the media to put the lid back on this Pandora's box of kindling. 'Blah-blah, it is good to have the state finally paying attention to this gem.' Right.

This is going to get worse as the weather improves...the state acquiesced on shutting down the island for those 4 days in September, let's hope they keep learning how not to destroy what has largely been a peaceful gathering place. Not sure if there've been any disturbances since 1943, but it seems the white-faced authoritarians want to foment one.

I'm ready for all y'all law-n-order types to drop in and try to dig more from my words than I intend, I'm merely describing what I see. Both my gal and I were troubled by the apparent over-use of force...searching for crap well beyond what should have simply been a initial offense introduction and warning.

This is heavy-handed and will backfire on the State and all of those who think the law is always right. Sometimes the law merely codifies and institutionalizes bully behavior.

One minute, we want things done. Next minute, we complain about how its being done.

I don't know if policing is being done responsibly, but I'll not rush to judgement.

How would you know these were 'initial' offenses? You seem to know a lot. Maybe you're really smart and insightful.

Or maybe you're paranoid and blowing something out of proportion -- and making assumptions based on your world-view.

**old guy** · April-20-14, 11:37 PM

I live in a different state, but I have to say that the state police where I live are total assholes. Local police seem to deal with certain situations with some regard to what's going on. State troopers seem to go by the book with no regard to what the situation is. I have no idea of what their training or regulations are, but they remind me more of thoughtless, indignant parasites that lack the ability to rationalize singular situations.
I think their IQ is substandard and their aggressiveness is not within the moral standards of the American public. Just my opinion. I think local police officers in general are more understanding to situations in general.

**Honky Tonk** · April-21-14, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by old guy

I live in a different state, but I have to say that the state police where I live are total assholes. Local police seem to deal with certain situations with some regard to what's going on. State troopers seem to go by the book with no regard to what the situation is. I have no idea of what their training or regulations are, but they remind me more of thoughtless, indignant parasites that lack the ability to rationalize singular situations.
I think their IQ is substandard and their aggressiveness is not within the moral standards of the American public. Just my opinion. I think local police officers in general are more understanding to situations in general.

Old guy, DPD has been more then "understanding" to situations in general for the past 50 years. How has that turned out for the City? I'm not advocating Martial Law, but policing has been SO lax in Detroit, it's a joke. The criminals don't even bother to cover up their actions in their presence. Crime, and especially petty crime, is the biggest reason more people leave then return. You need something, why buy? Your neighbor's not home. Maybe it's time people were held accountable for driving with stolen tags or plates?

**old guy** · April-21-14, 10:01 AM

HT, maybe I was a bit harsh about my feelings towards state troopers. I don't have a problem with police officers enforcing the laws and I appreciate the fact I live in an area where I feel safe because they do. I just don't care for the, absolute, by the book attitude state troopers utilize. In the area where I live it seems as though they're more revenue generators than peace keepers.

**Honky Tonk** · April-21-14, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by old guy

HT, maybe I was a bit harsh about my feelings towards state troopers. I don't have a problem with police officers enforcing the laws and I appreciate the fact I live in an area where I feel safe because they do. I just don't care for the, absolute, by the book attitude state troopers utilize. In the area where I live it seems as though they're more revenue generators than peace keepers.

NP. They've followed me on Belle Isle as well, and I know they were checking my plates. IMO, so much petty [[and serious) crime has been left unchecked in the City, that finally reigning it is going to cause quite a stir. That said, I don't want to go back to the Orville Hubbard days when long hair and a beard immediately got you pulled over and searched. I AM tired of buying license plate tags for the whole neighborhood.

**sumas** · April-21-14, 01:26 PM

I live so close to Belle Isle but rarely go. Shame on me. Gannon is right, the sunsets can be quite spectacular

I frankly just do not understand litter. My car gets a little messy on occasion but I would never just open a window and toss stuff. My front yard is fenced in and the crap I pick up weekly is astounding. It didn't just blow in. I think the only thing I haven't found yet is a used condom. It isn't our kids doing this either. As a community we have worked hard with area kids to respect nature and peoples property.

I still smoke but don't even toss the buts. One area Mom tried to get the schools to reinvent a don't liter campaign but she got blown off.

**sumas** · April-21-14, 04:22 PM

Just some nice memories of Belle Isle. We would do winter picnics. The bathrooms were heated. We would skate the canals. Grill hot dogs etc.

I am sorry to hear state troopers are acting like thugs. Lots of crazy behavior on the Island but police should not mimic that behavior.

I am a little old for this but the naked alternative beach is quite fun. Shame if that gets shut down. Young people , kids, dogs all seem to do fine. It is very very passive, closing that would be a huge shame. And no people, I do not do naked. Just no objections to people who do.