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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 3, 2015
Contact: Amanda Hertl, 313-396-6872
DNR to host open house Nov. 12 about Belle Isle Athletic Complex
Public invited to learn about proposed improvements, share their ideas
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host an open house Thursday, Nov. 12, to hear public input on improvements to be made to Belle Isle’s Athletic Complex. The open house will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Belle Isle Park Casino, located at 6925 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit.
The DNR is in the beginning stages of planning improvements to the complex, scheduled to be phased in over the next few years. The meeting will consist of roundtable discussions, where attendees can listen to the Belle Isle community’s vision for improvements to the Athletic Field and Courts, the Athletic Complex and supporting amenities. The public is invited to come at any time to provide comments and speak with DNR staff members.
For more information about the open house, contact Amanda Hertl at 313-396-6872 or hertla@michigan.gov.
The 36-acre island Athletic Field was designed to be the hub of athletic activities on the island. The Athletic Shelter, built in 1898, has been used for a variety of programming. The complex has facilities for softball, baseball, football, soccer, rugby, tennis and track. Handball/racquetball courts are located across Vista Way next to the Nature Trail. The Athletic Field originally was used for large parade venues, with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows starring Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, Pawnee Bill, Will Rogers, Tom Mix and Wild Bill Hickok taking place there from 1885 to 1905. Children’s Day parades were held there in the early 1900s, and today the field hosts Metro Detroit Youth Day in mid-July.
There is no charge to participate in the open house, but a Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to Belle Isle Park.
Additional information about Belle Isle Park – Michigan’s 102nd state park – and the Recreation Passport on Belle Isle is available at www.belleislepark.org.
Follow us on Twitter @MichiganDNR and @BelleIsle_Park. We encourage Belle Isle partners and others interested in the park's revitalization to use the hashtag #AllinforBelleIsle.
Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
Inside Michigan’s Great Outdoors subscribers are always the first to know about reservation opportunities, state park events and other outdoor happenings. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr to subscribe now.
/Editors, please note: An accompanying photo is available below for download. A suggested caption follows.
Belle_Isle_Athletic_Complex: Share your thoughts, ideas or questions about improvements to Belle Isle’s Athletic Complex at a Nov. 12 open house on the island./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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