Belle Isle/Aquarium shiver on the River [[DetroitNews)

**Rocko** · January-28-10, 09:42 AM

January 28. 2010 7:22AM Belle Isle a neglected gem waiting for political will

Charlie LeDuff / The Detroit News

Detroit --Whenever I feel troubled or penned-in, one of my favorite places is Belle Isle, where I can sit on the bank of the river and let my mind run. But when I went to Belle the other morning, I got a clear and unobstructed view of its 982 acres.

There is no other way to say it: The island, like the city, is plagued by neglect.

Take the Belle Isle Zoo.

It was closed by disgraced former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2002 for budget reasons.

He promised to reopen it, but never did. In the meantime, the zoo has given over to climbing vines and wild dogs

.

As the zoo was closed, a million dollars was found to build a holding pen for a few dozen European deer that used to roam the island freely. That contract was awarded to Bobby Ferguson, the mayor's friend who got a lot of contracts during the Kilpatrick years.

Today, the holding pen is being dug up and the deer shoved to one corner, since rotting sewer pipes weren't replaced before erecting the pen.

And then there is the Belle Isle Aquarium, a 10,000-square-foot gem with an eight-sided dome that opened in 1904 as the entrance to the botanical conservatory.

Kilpatrick closed the aquarium in 2005, saying the $300,000 a year it cost the city to run the place was better used toward things like tearing down abandoned buildings. In the end, he only succeeded in creating another.

The aquarium is still in a good state of repair. Unlike much of Detroit, vandals and nature have yet to ravage it.

Designed by Albert Kahn as part of the "City Beautiful Movement," the ceilings are still covered in green glass tiles, the viewing tanks are still lined in chromium and the steam heat still operates. The roof needs work.

It is Michigan's only and America's oldest aquarium and the Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium are trying to raise $1 million to reopen it.

"Once it is lost, it is lost," said Vance Patrick, president of the organization who gave me a tour. "I took my kids there. I went there as a kid. Generations have grown up going to the Belle Isle Aquarium. There is no other opportunity to visit aquatic life in the Great Lakes state."

Two ideas for saving Belle Isle and its venue have been floating around for at least 15 years, but there seems to be no political will or energy to seize upon then.

The first is a conservancy, a public-private partnership that oversees maintenance and improvements to the park. Such an arrangement means funding would come from fundraising, grants and user fees. New York's Central Park has been operating like this since 1980, when joggers feared for their lives and junkies inhabited bathroom stalls.

It should be noted that both Central Park and Belle Isle were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the founder of landscape architecture. In my opinion, Belle Isle is the more beautiful.

The conservancy arrangement is not unprecedented in Detroit: the Institute of Arts, Zoo, Science Center and Historical Museum all operate as such. And Belle Isle has no lack of supporters who do much conservation work anyway including: the Friends of Belle Isle, the Belle Isle Botanical Society and the Belle Isle Women's Committee.

The second is idea is a user fee, like those used at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
Belle Isle now has no budget specifically for itself, said Keith Flournoy, the park manager, since its budget is folded into the greater parks and recreation

budget. The budget for all the parks in the city is $25 million, half of what it was when the aquarium was closed.

"If they don't do something soon, all we will pass our children is a pile of rubble," said Ernest Burkeen, the director of Detroit Parks and Recreation under Mayor Dennis Archer and currently the director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Miami.

"Unfortunately, race is always a bogey man. We're giving it away to the suburbs, the argument goes," said Burkeen. "Secondly there is a political culture in Detroit where you have a bunch of people who are against everything. They can't give you a better way. They simply say no."

Mayor Dave Bing said earlier this year he is considering funding options to resurrect the forlorn island. Residents wait.

If you wish to tour the shuttered aquarium, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 6 as part of the annual Shiver on the River celebration of Belle Isle.

The event will feature live entertainment and the opening of the island's other venues including the casino and conservatory. Donations are welcome.

From The Detroit News: http://detroitnews.com/article/20100...#ixzz0duzOKPwk

**DetroitZack** · February-01-10, 03:15 PM

Just giving this thread a bump so people attend Shiver on the River. I've never been but since there are buildings that will be open that normally aren't there is no way I am missing this!

http://belleisleaquarium.com/

**Newhorizons** · February-05-10, 09:28 AM

Well I hope to see alot of people out and about tomorrow at the aquarium!!! If

**Newhorizons** · February-05-10, 09:30 AM

Well I hope to see alot of people out and about tomorrow at the aquarium!!! If we stand together with these proprosals we can make a difference... It should never be lost..

**kryptonite** · February-05-10, 10:11 AM

I think I have a friend convinced to go with me. I'm hoping the Dossin museum will also be open, he isn't very familiar with Belle Isle and would enjoy both places.

**Wintersmommy** · February-05-10, 10:20 AM

I think i shall drag the moms and child down to take a look! I have always wanted to see the inside of the aquarium.

**Margarite** · February-05-10, 10:20 AM

While you are at Shiver be sure to stop by the Nature Zoo. There will be activities for children and Michigan Greyhound Connection [[shameless plug) will be there with greyhounds to meet up close and personal. And along with the Aquarium, the boat club is a must see. I love Shiver!

**rajdet** · February-05-10, 11:23 AM

I was there last year, it was a good time.

**Newhorizons** · February-05-10, 01:14 PM

I believe most of the buildings will be open.....

**Newhorizons** · February-05-10, 01:17 PM

Just make sure everyone dresses warm.. It is going to be a cold one.

**Margarite** · February-05-10, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Newhorizons

I believe most of the buildings will be open.....

Here's the Friends of Belle Isle website that shows activities, times, and when and which buildings will be open.

http://www.fobi.org/new.htm

**Newhorizons** · February-05-10, 10:41 PM

Margarite thanks for your imput... Since I am restoring 3 homes in Detroit I am looking forward to seeing Belle Isle again and what its condition is....

LodgeDodger · February-06-10, 12:44 PM

The Ice Tree is looking particularly icy this year...

**buildingsofdetroit** · February-06-10, 08:01 PM

I couldn't make it this year after my all-nighter/all-morninger camping out for the Lafayette collapse last night. How was the turnout?

**Guideboat** · February-06-10, 11:33 PM

I was in there with my family around 11:00ish and there was a very nice crowd [[the Casino and Conservatory were jumping, too). Unlike last year, the entire public area was open, since Kwame got his lawn furniture out of there. There were some koi in one of the large tanks, so it was good too see fish somewhere other than the basement or the outdoor pond again. Various displays of art, marine, and historical stuff in some of the empty tanks which added to the interest.

Kudos to Vance and crew for opening things up and keeping the dream alive!

**Todd_Scott** · February-07-10, 12:57 AM

Interim Rec Director Alicia Minter has a fine response to the glass-half-empty LeDuff article
http://detnews.com/article/20100205/...ish-Belle-Isle

**ggcanfield** · February-07-10, 02:18 AM

I was there around 12:30- 50 or so people in the Aquarium at that time. The Conservatory/Aquarium parking lot looked about 2/3 full. I wasn't at the Casino, but the parking lot there looked much busier than last year. Not sure how it compares to previous years. I'd love to hear from someone who has better info.

I did take the Detroit Boat Club tour, which I really enjoyed. Not as many people there, not sure people knew the building was open for the day.

Pictures from the DBC if you want to check it out:
http://belleislehome.blogspot.com/

**Eastside** · February-07-10, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by ggcanfield

I was there around 12:30- 50 or so people in the Aquarium at that time. The Conservatory/Aquarium parking lot looked about 2/3 full. I wasn't at the Casino, but the parking lot there looked much busier than last year. Not sure how it compares to previous years. I'd love to hear from someone who has better info.

I did take the Detroit Boat Club tour, which I really enjoyed. Not as many people there, not sure people knew the building was open for the day.

Pictures from the DBC if you want to check it out:
http://belleislehome.blogspot.com/

Nice photos of the Boat Club. The interior appears to be remarkably good shape.

**Margarite** · February-07-10, 10:49 AM

I can only speak to my experience at the Nature Zoo and the attendance there was definitely up from previous years. I spoke to one of the staff and she confirmed my observation. Our greyhounds were pooped after their two hour shift and our volunteers said they were very busy. I think coverage on the local news really helped bring in more visitors. A great day for the Island and all the tireless volunteers who make this event happen. Kudos to the Friends of the Detroit River, Friends of Belle Isle, Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Belle Isle Conservatory Society and everyone else who worked so hard to make this event a success.

**ggcanfield** · February-07-10, 04:36 PM

Thanks, Eastside. I am not a photographer at all, I always worry about not doing the subject justice.

There is a lot of shabby carpeting, and peeling paint and plaster that I didn't show... I got the impression there are some pretty major structural/mechanical things that need updating. Nothing that winning Powerball couldn't fix.

**DetroitZack** · February-08-10, 06:35 PM

It was a fun time. I will share my pictures once I upload them. It was awesome to get into some of the buildings that I normally can't. Especially the aquarium, which I found pretty depressing. Fantastic Albert Kahn building though! I walked all through the Detroit Boat Club Building, could use a lot of work! Some of the rooms on the upper floor looked straight out of abandoned buildings I am use to exploring.

**Newhorizons** · February-08-10, 10:12 PM

Arrived at Belle Isle at around 10:30 and had a wonderful time. Loved the\Aquarium and its beautiful green glass tiles.. But most of all it was the volunteers that made it a great place to be hats off for all of them.. The botanical garden was as I remember as I was a young boy and remembered some of the trees that I enjoyed back then. Overall it was wonderful and the crowd was very large this year.. I really hope next year even more will come out and support this wonderful area of history and get these buildings open again for the public. I know I will volunteer as much time as I have to be part of this.

**kryptonite** · February-09-10, 08:02 AM

I was at Belle Isle around 2:15 with a friend and we had just enough time to visit the Dossin museum, a walk through of the aquarium, and a visit to the Boat Club. We enjoyed it all and left a few $ at Dossin and the aquarium.

Gcanfield, those photos of the DBC are excellent.