What to do with Belle Isle?

**Maof** · May-06-23, 06:13 AM

Meanwhile, the casino will be closed until further notice for roof replacement...

**canuck** · May-06-23, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Maof

Meanwhile, the casino will be closed until further notice for roof replacement...

The kind of architecture that puts a smile on my face, and then a little tear in the corner of my eye when I look at what is now being built around us. A real treasure.

**Gistok** · May-06-23, 12:12 PM

Does anyone know what they are going to do with the paddock area [sea of concrete]? That needs to go real badly!!

**southen** · May-06-23, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Does anyone know what they are going to do with the paddock area [sea of concrete]? That needs to go real badly!!

I sat in on a conservancy zoom last year and asked that question. Sadly there are no plans for it currently and I think they are focused on putting their efforts elsewhere. Penske should be the one to pay for its' removal.

**ABetterDetroit** · May-06-23, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by southen

I sat in on a conservancy zoom last year and asked that question. Sadly there are no plans for it currently and I think they are focused on putting their efforts elsewhere. Penske should be the one to pay for its' removal.

I agree it is a eyesore and it would be nice if the paddock was removed but there is some park benefit to having it. Many times I have seen parents taking the little ones there to skate board, roller blade, and ride bikes. On a pretty day last fall on the paddock I witnessed a 4 year old take his 2 wheeler solo for the first time. That’s alway fun to see. It is a great place that’s in a park for those kinds of activity's away from traffic with no obstacles. So… There’s that up side for what it’s worth.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-07-23, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by masterblaster

I really wish they would bring back:

The old Lily Pond [[much, much larger than the tiny one smushed against a corner of the conservatory building) -

-Return Central Avenue to the tree-lined, pedestrian-only road that it originally was:

-Another poster said bring back the horses. I concur. My heart sunk when I heard the old stables are going to be rebuilt at Greenfield Village, as if Belle Isle doesn't exist anymore? The State DNR actually has experience with horse stables and horse riding at nearby Maybury State Park.

-The 9-hole golf course: make it into a permanent disc golf course

-Some kind of animals: the zoo existed across 3 CENTURIES from 1895-2001. Let's bring some element of that back, even if it is only the white-tailed deer pen and feeding them.

Link isn't available for Central Ave. The old lily pond looks fantastic.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-07-23, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Maof

Meanwhile, the casino will be closed until further notice for roof replacement...

Such a beautiful structure. Detroit had some of the best architecture in the country, only to lose a lot of it to abandonment and disrepair.

**southen** · May-07-23, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

I agree it is a eyesore and it would be nice if the paddock was removed but there is some park benefit to having it. Many times I have seen parents taking the little ones there to skate board, roller blade, and ride bikes. On a pretty day last fall on the paddock I witnessed a 4 year old take his 2 wheeler solo for the first time. That’s alway fun to see. It is a great place that’s in a park for those kinds of activity's away from traffic with no obstacles. So… There’s that up side for what it’s worth.

I think you could get rid of 95% of it and still have that option. A lot of times when I am over at Oudolf working the DPD will be doing obstacle courses in that space and all you could hear was screeching tires for a couple of hours. Those were headphone mornings instead of being able to enjoy the sounds of nature and tranquility on the island in the morning.

**401don** · May-07-23, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by southen

I think you could get rid of 95% of it and still have that option. A lot of times when I am over at Oudolf working the DPD will be doing obstacle courses in that space and all you could hear was screeching tires for a couple of hours. Those were headphone mornings instead of being able to enjoy the sounds of nature and tranquility on the island in the morning.

Hard to think "landscaped parking lot" without thinking of you-know-who but it wouldn't hurt to put some planter boxes and benches on it as a short term solution to deter cars and help with aesthetics.

**Kathleen** · May-07-23, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

The old lily pond looks fantastic.

Beautiful! Reminds me a bit of Monet's water lily pond in Giverny. Would love to see something like it here on Belle Isle!

**Gistok** · May-07-23, 03:11 PM

The pond between the Conservatory and Aquarium is quite beautiful. The city keeps the people behind the fence to protect it from vandalism... and to keep children from falling in and drowning.

**Kathleen** · May-08-23, 07:49 PM

^^ That is a beautiful scene! But it hasn't looked like that when I've stopped by the Conservatory!!

**royce** · May-12-23, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by southen

I think you could get rid of 95% of it and still have that option. A lot of times when I am over at Oudolf working the DPD will be doing obstacle courses in that space and all you could hear was screeching tires for a couple of hours. Those were headphone mornings instead of being able to enjoy the sounds of nature and tranquility on the island in the morning.

There is also a road that was added for the Grand Prix that's just southeast of the fountain that needs to be removed in addition to the paddock.

**esighed** · May-12-23, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by royce

There is also a road that was added for the Grand Prix that's just southeast of the fountain that needs to be removed in addition to the paddock.

Also, take away the pedestrian bridge supports and the ruts in the cricket field next to the Casino from the heavy semi-trucks of the race. I wonder how much damage was done to the McArthur Bridge from the heavy semi trucks. They are repairing it this summer.

**GPCharles** · May-12-23, 12:51 PM

Repair the statute of General Starkey Williams that apparently was hit by a car within the last week.

**Henry Whalley** · May-12-23, 02:33 PM

Donate the island to Ivanhoe [The Polish Yacht Club] as a reparation for the destruction of Poletown, the Round Bar, etc.

**Maof** · May-13-23, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by GPCharles

Repair the statute of General Starkey Williams that apparently was hit by a car within the last week.

Did it happen again? We were just there two weeks ago and I know it was hit in late 2021. The fire damage was mostly cleaned up compared to when it was hit....https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/eas...le-isle-statue

**esighed** · May-15-23, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Maof

Did it happen again? We were just there two weeks ago and I know it was hit in late 2021. The fire damage was mostly cleaned up compared to when it was hit....https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/eas...le-isle-statue

The 56 y.o. man whose car crashed into the statue Dec. 2021 died, I think DNR said it was a suicide. I suggested to Scott Pratt [[DNR Southern Field Operations Chief) that the DNR contact the driver's insurance company to collect repair cost of the statue. Oliver Dewey Marcks Foundation renovated the statue about 20 years ago. They should be contacted to repair it again but use the insurance money from the man who hit the statue. I also talked to Amanda Treadwell [[Urban Field Planner DNR) to do this before the time to claim money is gone.

**DeLemur** · May-15-23, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by southen

I think you could get rid of 95% of it and still have that option. A lot of times when I am over at Oudolf working the DPD will be doing obstacle courses in that space and all you could hear was screeching tires for a couple of hours. Those were headphone mornings instead of being able to enjoy the sounds of nature and tranquility on the island in the morning.

I guess the question is how often do you hear that? This feels like a good balance. Most of the time its tranquility in sound there near the Oudolf garden, while sometimes DPD is enjoying and using the great Belle Isle Park as well. Yes one of your senses is then disrupted but then more people are enjoying a dynamic island.

**Gistok** · May-15-23, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by DeLemur

I guess the question is how often do you hear that? This feels like a good balance. Most of the time its tranquility in sound there near the Oudolf garden, while sometimes DPD is enjoying and using the great Belle Isle Park as well. Yes one of your senses is then disrupted but then more people are enjoying a dynamic island.

Do you know what the street on Belle Isle that has a German name translates to? INSELRUHE... means "QUIET ISLAND".

So unless you are going down the "greased" giant slide... things should be pretty quiet in the park in general...