Detroit News article on Belle Isle decline and some hope

**Traveller1** · January-28-10, 02:31 PM

http://detnews.com/article/20100128/...political-will

I remember going to Belle Isle as a kid, everything on the island was not exactly vibrant but everything was open and still operating. The Belle Isle Zoo, Aquarium, and the Detroit Boat Club were all operable. To see Detroit's most important gems [[at least in my opinion) just completely shut down is devastating.

The Belle Isle Zoo is probably a complete loss at this point since it has been rotting for 9 years now, and is probably beyond repair with no interest in it by any organizations or city government. The Detroit Boat Club is also severe shape, a building a beautiful as the Detroit Boat Club should never fall into the kind of despair that it has fallen into today. Since there seems to be no real interest by the city or any organization to renovate the D.B.C. I'm afraid that demolition may be the only thing for the Detroit Boat Club's future. But I still believe that there is hope for the Belle Isle Aquarium since the Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium are working very hard to reopen it to some degree and save the building itself.

What are your memories or opinions on these three Belle Isle gems?

**trotwood** · January-28-10, 04:35 PM

My parents often took me to Belle Isle in the summer. I thought it was the most beautiful place in the world! The grounds were well maintained and clean. There used to be peacocks everywhere. I'd never seen a peacock in person before I went to Belle Isle so I was in awe of them. I nagged my parents to let me take one home as a pet every Sunday. After about a month or two of "No!" I finally gave up lol.

**Hermod** · January-28-10, 04:45 PM

The thing that I miss the most about Belle Isle is the square-topped ice cream cones which the square bricks of ice cream fit into. I have never seen them before or since.

Lots of things though,

sailing boats in the Key Fountain

horse drawn carts and sleighs for rent

Canoes for rent on the lagoons

The JT Wing schooner and the maritime museum inside.

The zoo, aquarium, and arboretum.

The winding roads around the park.

The ferry you could take instead of taking your car over the bridge.

**Newhorizons** · January-28-10, 05:10 PM

I remember so accurately as if it was yesterday how beautiful it was to travel to Belle Isle.. The maritime museum and the aquarium was absolutely awesome... I hope that someone finally stands at the plate and gets some investors to work on this beautiful area.. Detroit politicians are to say the least very passive about their city and our culture.

**ggcanfield** · January-28-10, 06:42 PM

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is still awesome!
http://belleislehome.blogspot.com/20...at-dossin.html
...and it is still beautiful to travel to Belle Isle! I would be interested in hearing how long it's been since you've been there from those posting memories. I know it may not be "as great" as you remember, but it is still pretty amazing. I hope readers here will be more than hopeful, and don't just leave it up to the politicians to be active about getting to work on Belle Isle.

As Traveller1 mentioned, Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium [[http://www.belleisleaquarium.com/) is trying to step up its efforts to get support for re-opening the aquarium. The aquarium will be open from 10-3 on February 6 for Shiver on the River, if you haven't seen the inside of the building or want to see it again after many years.

**Hermod** · January-28-10, 07:14 PM

My father loved Belle Isle and we would often go there after church on Sunday.

After 1954 [[we moved to Rochester), I didn't go there until 1961 when I lived in Detroit again.

The deterioration from 1954 to 1961 was apparent.

I haven't been to Belle Isle since 1961.

**Newhorizons** · January-29-10, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the postings on Belle Isle ggcanfield we will be at the aquarium on Feb 6th.... I am also going to go down to the Maritime Museum to see if our son and his friend can volunteer some time this summer.. I love it there and yes we need to go more often.. What a great place!!!!!

**detroittrader** · January-29-10, 10:15 AM

I spent some time on Belle Isle with my 3 "tween" daughters and their friend this summer. They practiced break dancing moves on the rundown ampitheater stage with the help of a boombox, went down that painful slide more times than I can count, had lunch on the river, etc. On a second trip we went to the Dossin Mueseum, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, and then followed up at Dequindre Cut for pictures of said "tweens" doing break dancing poses with graffiti backgrounds. We had a great time there and they are looking forward to going back in spring/summer.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-29-10, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by detroittrader

I spent some time on Belle Isle with my 3 "tween" daughters and their friend this summer. They practiced break dancing moves on the rundown ampitheater stage with the help of a boombox, went down that painful slide more times than I can count, had lunch on the river, etc. On a second trip we went to the Dossin Mueseum, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, and then followed up at Dequindre Cut for pictures of said "tweens" doing break dancing poses with graffiti backgrounds. We had a great time there and they are looking forward to going back in spring/summer.

What a great parent, I bet they thought it was the coolest!

**Ezri** · January-29-10, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by ggcanfield

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is still awesome!
http://belleislehome.blogspot.com/20...at-dossin.html
...and it is still beautiful to travel to Belle Isle! I would be interested in hearing how long it's been since you've been there from those posting memories. I know it may not be "as great" as you remember, but it is still pretty amazing. I hope readers here will be more than hopeful, and don't just leave it up to the politicians to be active about getting to work on Belle Isle.

As Traveller1 mentioned, Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium [[http://www.belleisleaquarium.com/) is trying to step up its efforts to get support for re-opening the aquarium. The aquarium will be open from 10-3 on February 6 for Shiver on the River, if you haven't seen the inside of the building or want to see it again after many years.

Early 90's for me. Yes, I was impressed with the Dossin Great Lakes Museum... but what I loved the most was the plant conservatory.
For what I've read the conservatory is still working... and I think it is worth to make a trip just to see that.

I remember so many things about Belle Isle; the zoo, the great fountain and gardens just in front of the conservatory, the aquarium... ...observing wild deer and some other wild animals... the beautifull bridge that leads to Belle Isle.

I don't think people realize the "jewel" you have.... I never saw something that looked like Belle Isle untill I moved to Paris, France.....

**Ltdave** · January-29-10, 09:30 PM

my wife and i went there many times when we were dating. 1994-1995 timeframe...

the zoo was still open, the aquarium was still open and of course the conservatory and museum were open...

my wife still has a picture she carries of her and i holding each other on the little footbridge not far from the conservatory [[i think). its on the east side of the island...

as a small SMALL child i can remember going to the zoo and my parents still tell the story 41 years later how i would drop the fish that the seals were jumping out of the water to get. i guess i thought i might get bit...

**Hamtragedy** · January-30-10, 02:03 AM

Never mind what anyone says. The end of the island by the Livingston Lighthouse always has & always will be the best spot on the island to get your full scope of the Great Lakes. Its the most serene part of the park, has the best views, and the best beach. Bring your dog.

**markharrison** · January-30-10, 10:17 AM

My parents took us there regularly during the late 50's/early to mid 60's. Cub Scout field trips to the arboretum, petting zoo [[especially neat if you were lucky enough to have one of the "magic elephant keys" that operated the talk boxes), & aquarium. Swimming at the beach in the summer [[and the muck fights that were part of it), picnics, Dossin Great Lakes Museum [[the Miss Pepsi was the coolest boat in the world to a young gearhead like me), my Dad had an affinity for the Scott Fountain [[he drove around it 50 times once and made us all dizzy/sick), the Good Humor man, the snack bars, play grounds. It was a "magical" place for kids. The last time I was there was in '86 on my Dad's "farewell" tour [[all of his family still lived in MI). Yep, I had to drive him around the Scott Fountain. LOL!

**detroittrader** · January-30-10, 11:44 AM

Here is my attempt at posting some pics and yes I did go to the "test lab" and practice. These are from late may of 2009.

The Ampitheater:

The Giant Slide...it's gotta' be painful!

Nancy Brown Peace Carrillon needs a little weeding and clock repair:

**detroittrader** · January-30-10, 11:45 AM

Sweet! I did it!

**Hermod** · January-30-10, 11:58 AM

Do they still have the evening concerts at the carillion??

**DetroitPlanner** · February-01-10, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Motor48

You know what I always wondered is why Belle Isle wasn;t used as the pl;ace for the casinos What a secure place that would have been to Build and Maintain the Big casinos now in Detroit . I now live in The Los Angeles area have been here since 1980 and there is No urban blight here any vacant property Is grabbed up and Developed and sold . and this is done without a single car being built in CA .

Ever since the days Of Coleman Young that city has gone to pot [[and crack ).
Its Not about Greenbelts ect Its about Home values that will never be with the crimes that are part of everyday life in the motorcity.

I can't tell if you're slamming Young or agreeing with him. He was the one who proposed Casinos for Belle Isle. And Toyota builds cars in CA, if I'm not mistaken GM does too.

**mikeg19** · February-01-10, 11:58 AM

Unfortunately I never really had the pleasure of enjoying Belle Isle. The only time I ever went there was for the Indy car races when I was younger with my dad. Other than that, never went there.

**detroitbred** · February-01-10, 12:37 PM

One of my many fond memories of growing up in Detroit, and Bell Isle, was my dad taking me, my sister and brother there after dusk. We would feed the small deer from the back of our station wagon, with a big bag of carrots and bread. They would take them right out of our hands. It was magical thing for us to be that close to "wild animals"! Now, the poor things are confined to the closed zoo....I hope they are not suffering from hunger or sickness there. There must be some in-breeding and crowding going on, wouldn't you think? Sad.

**ggcanfield** · February-01-10, 01:41 PM

detroitbred - most of the deer were removed to an animal sanctuary north of metro Detroit. The remaining deer are cared for by the very competent folks of the Detroit Zoo. You can still feed the deer if you like. More info on the deer here;
http://www.detroitzoo.org/Visitors/N...eer_Encounter/

It would be lovely if you came to Belle Isle in this century. You might be able to create some new magical memories.

**detroitbred** · February-01-10, 01:56 PM

gg....thansk so much for the "deer update"! I am something of a crazy animal lover and worry about all God's four legged creatures. I am releived that they are being well cared for. I will make it a point to revisit the island this year.....I could use a little magic in my life, as I am sure we all could these days.

**ggcanfield** · February-01-10, 02:15 PM

detroitbred, I hope you will have a pleasant visit! I am there once or twice a week, and always find something interesting to do, even just a walk along the shore is great with the view of the city.

**DetBill** · February-01-10, 02:50 PM

I go there alot,, living in Lafayette Park its a great option on any day/morning,, it seems to be getting cleaner although lots of repair is certainly needed.. I go to the conservatory often, its a good break and sometimes just hike around.. I really enjoys days when I can take an hour or two to walk all over. Im surprised at how many different types of people go there now, seems to be attracting alot during the day more. I had some out of town guests from Cleveland visiting and took them there, they commented on what a unbelievably wonderful place it is , they thought the location, the Scott fountain, the bell tower and the aquarium were very cool "but its too bad its in such bad shape in some places", .. So .lots of work and TLC is still needed but something about nature, no matter how mankind ruins it at times, its stronger and survives, we all need to be better caretakers.

**DetroitZack** · February-01-10, 03:11 PM

Not really any Belle Isle memories to share since when I was young we never went to Detroit. But now that I am there all the time I go to Belle Isle pretty often, especially when showing out of towners around the city.