What to do with Belle Isle?

[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.