(with video) Belle Isle revitalization efforts in full gear

Belle Isle

Belle Isle revitalization efforts in full gear,
restrooms open, fountain cascades once again

If it's been awhile since you’ve been to Belle Isle, come see for yourself – good things are happening. Comprehensive revitalization efforts shifted into full gear earlier this year with help from countless city, state and nonprofit partners, and the positive results are easy to spot all over this beloved island park.

Click on this 70-second video (at right) of Belle Isle restroom and Scott Memorial Fountain revitalization efforts, where you'll see stunning footage of the fountain cascades at dusk.

Working around the clock, park staff and partners have renovated a dozen of the island’s restrooms (both freestanding and those located in buildings like the casino, conservatory and Flynn Pavilion). Water lines were plumbed and fixed, heating units added, walls painted and broken fixtures replaced.

Except during severe weather, the Scott Memorial Fountain is now running daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Labor Day. Collaboration among the Department of Natural Resources, the Belle Isle Conservancy, DTE Energy and other partners made this possible.

Stroll the island and you will see a cleaned, restored Kids’ Row Playscape; the giant slide operating on weekends; the clock near the island entrance keeps time once again; refurbished picnic tables; several hundred refuse barrels placed around the island; hot-coal bins added to picnic areas near grills to protect tree health; and clean, repaired athletic fields that most weeknights are being used by community leagues.

Renovated shelters are perfect for family reunions, birthday celebrations and other special events. Because of Penske Corporation/Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Michigan Cares for Tourism, Metro Detroit-area Boy Scouts and many others, shelter No. 9 has new paint, a new roof and new grills, shelter No. 14 has been reroofed and other shelters have been painted. The Youth Connection with the Michigan Concrete Association poured ADA-accessible sidewalks and parking spaces near shelters No. 10 and 11.

Everyone is pitching in for Belle Isle, because Belle Isle is for everyone.

Belle Isle – Michigan's 102nd state park – is a recreational and cultural treasure. It's the people's park. The DNR is committed to working side by side with the Detroit community, our partners and everyone who believes we can achieve the total revitalization of this unique island park.

Good things are happening on Belle Isle. Come see for yourself. Learn more at www.belleislepark.org.

The DNR encourages Belle Isle partners and others talking about the island park's revitalization to share their news via Twitter @MichiganDNR using the hashtag #AllinforBelleIsle.

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.