History

Known as Wah-na-be-zee (Swan Island) to the Chippewa and Ottawa Native American tribes, today Belle Isle reflects the late 19th century movement to create metropolitan parks begun in Paris and emulated in cities across America. Ownership of these six hundred acres in the Detroit River passed over time to the French and then to the British before ending up with American settlers. The City of Detroit finally acquired the island, whose name was changed mid-century from Hog Island to Belle Isle, in 1879. Soon citizens were calling on the City to create a public park on Belle Isle that would emulate the parks and tree-lined boulevards of Paris. In 1883, the City secured the services of Frederick Law Olmsted, the prominent landscape architect and planner responsible for famous urban parks, including New York City's Central Park. After Olmsted's design was completed, other buildings were slowly added to the island. Perhaps the most famous structures on Belle Isle are the Aquarium and Horticulture building. The Horticulture building, also called the Conservatory, includes a fernery and a tropical plants section, and is surrounded by three acres of formal gardens, lily ponds and greenhouses. Another noted building is the Albert Kahn-designed Belle Isle Casino, which no longer functions as a casino. A beautiful public park of memorials, fountains, athletic fields, man-made lagoons, and dramatic buildings, Belle Isle is a green oasis near the City's center. Belle Isle is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Surrounding Conditions

Belle Isle is located in the middle of the Detroit River, and is accessed from the MacArthur Bridge, which connects Belle Isle to East Grand Boulevard. Because Belle Isle is not contiguous with any part of Detroit, it is difficult to assess its surrounding conditions. The neighborhoods and areas to which Belle Isle is closest fall primarily into Cluster 3 of the Detroit Community Reinvestment Strategy Plan. Cluster 3 has suffered a significant loss in housing, creating numerous vacant lots and blighted areas. Many commercial businesses have also pulled out of this neighborhood. The number of families living below the poverty level (38.44%) is above that for the City as a whole. This area is largely African American (79.58%) and is almost 15% seniors. Despite high levels of poverty, the Cluster is characterized by relatively stable neighborhoods. This area is also the focus of several housing initiatives and redevelopment plans. This area has potential regional assets as it also borders on affluent Grosse Pointe. It is less than one mile from the heart of downtown Detroit.

Physical Characteristics

Belle Isle measures 2.5 miles long and covers nearly 1,000 acres. It is a Detroit city park and is free and open to the public year-round. Belle Isle is crisscrossed by a series of canals and roads. It features picnic areas, play areas and walking trails, and a large, natural wooded area that is the home of a wide variety of small animals, birds and deer. Belle Isle offers magnificent, unobstructed views of the water and Detroit and Windsor skylines. The single bridge access to the island provides the ability to control overcrowding during peak usage times. The furthest edge of the city limit is 15 miles or a 30-minute drive to the island. Bus service and highways are easily accessible. A 50-mile radius includes all 5 HCMA counties.

CURRENT USES

Each year, Belle Isle hosts approximately 8 million visitors. Many of these visitors come from outside of the immediate vicinity, making the island a true regional resource. Several non-profit organizations focus their energies on Belle Isle, including Friends of Belle Isle, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historical Site, and The Belle Isle Botanical Society.

In addition to picnic areas, play areas and walking trails, Belle Isle offers the following facilities (many of which have limited hours due to financial constraints):
*Athletic Complex
*Aquarium
*Beach
*Belle Isle Zoo-closed in 2002
*Carillon Tower
*Conservatory
*Detroit Boat Club
*Detroit Yacht Club
*Dossin Maritime Museum
*Fishing Piers
*Golf Course and Driving Range

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND SERVICES

The City of Detroit has produced a masterplan for the improvement of Belle Isle. Fundamental components of the masterplan include a formal zone (Scott Fountain and surrounding area), an active zone (which would include a re-clustering of the cultural campus), and a natural zone (on the east end of the island). This masterplan would be the basis for an HCMA partnership. Planned improvements are extensive and include the following:

Formal Zone
Reconstruction of traffic lanes, circulation patterns, and signage around the Belle Isle Main Entrance is planned to increase the ease and safety of accessing the MacArthur Bridge from the mainland. The new entrance will provide an attractive and welcoming gateway to the park. Gabriel Richard Park, at the foot of the bridge, will also be enhanced to further beautify the area.

The existing roundabout surrounding the Scott Fountain will be converted into a pedestrian plaza with formal landscape treatment and flower gardens.

Point Plaza is the furthest point to the west at the tip of Belle Isle. This plaza will be refurbished and will be the new home of programmed lunchtime activities such as live music and festivals.

Active Zone
Throughout the park construction of new athletic amenities and facilities are planned. There will be new soccer and baseball fields, as well as basketball and roller hockey courts. A sports pub is planned at the Athletic Pavilion for post-game refreshments. The Athletic area will be connected to the beach with a pedestrian walkway.

There are substantial improvements planned for the beach area, including the addition of beach volleyball courts, water slides, and possible parasailing and sailboard rentals. The beach improvements will also create a viewing area for Annual Hydroplane Races.

Culture Center
There will be substantial renovation, refurbishments and expansions to the Conservatory, greenhouse, gardens and museums on Belle Isle, including a separate Children's Garden.

A new Cultural Court will be constructed, consisting of a Children's Theater, "artist retreat" with open workshops/demonstrations/apprenticeships, a new restaurant, and an open-air courtyard.

Natural Zone
The Environmental Awareness Center will create a partnership with universities for a research laboratory on site. The Center will house a new Nature/Learning Center with interactive exhibits and a new Michigan Wildlife/Habitat Exhibit. The Center is also the site of a possible charter school for natural resources. In addition, the plan calls for a Native Forest Preserve with trails and a naturally landscaped Broad Meadow with bike and walking ways.

Shared Management and Maintenance: Belle Isle has long been considered the "jewel of the Detroit park system." In recent years, city budget short-falls have taken their toll on the park's facilities and grounds by forcing postponement of maintenance and improvements, and a number of facilities have been closed. The City continues to operate the park, and in recent years has made considerable effort to increase maintenance activities. In the midst of these budget shortfalls, numerous proposals have been considered for sharing management and financial responsibilities for the park. The proposed plan is to transfer the management of Belle Isle to the HCMA, with the City maintaining ownership of the land. The City, the HCMA, and the private sector are expected to share in some of the costs for initial improvements. It will be necessary for the City and the HCMA to reach an agreement about motor vehicle entrance fees.

RESOURCES

1. Belle Isle Map
2. Regional Map highlighting Belle Isle
3. Detroit Community Reinvestment Strategy: Cluster 3

Site Analysis

Current Uses

Proposed Development

Plan and Services

Resources

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