DNR seeks public input on prioritizing future Belle Isle improvements
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Belle Isle Conservancy are asking for input on 11 potential investments designed to significantly enhance enjoyment of Belle Isle Park.
Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others interested in this beloved park are encouraged to learn more and rank 11 potential large-scale projects. Links to both the project page and online public survey are available at Michigan.gov/BelleIsle, and the survey is open through Labor Day weekend.
This public feedback is a key component of the development of a new Belle Isle strategic development plan, which builds upon the 2018 Belle Isle Park Strategic Management Plan, DNR officials said.
Potential projects for consideration include:
Beach. Extend the beach and renovate the bath house.
Boathouse. Restore and reactivate the Belle Isle Boathouse for public use.
Park cafe. Create a park cafe at the Belle Isle White House.
Canals and trails. Improve access to canals and create trails.
Carillon Peace Tower. Renovate the Nancy Brown Carillon Peace Tower.
Kids Row. Create a bigger, better Kids Row Playground.
Music band shell. Restore and activate the Remick Music Band Shell.
Piers and docks. Rebuild piers and docks for fishing and potential ferry service.
Sawmill. Create an interpretive center at the historic sawmill.
Stable yard. Clean up and activate former stable yard.
Community and volunteer space. Create community and volunteer space at the historic police headquarters.
This summerlong community outreach effort also includes an on-the-ground team of staff and volunteers who will gather feedback at the park and at various community events throughout Detroit.
More: Belle Isle's transformation under state control: What's changed, what's still coming
More: Decades of Michigan lake data, hidden in filing cabinets, digitized with volunteer help
The strategic development plan team created this list of projects by evaluating park buildings and spaces, reviewing public comments during the recent multimodal study and consulting with staff. Since these are significant undertakings, moving forward on any of them likely would require a strategic funding approach, including philanthropic partnerships.
Critical ongoing efforts, such as opening restrooms, slowing vehicle traffic, keeping the bridge open and improving trash pickup, are not listed as potential projects because work is already underway to address them.
"This fall, the project team will draft a set of recommendations to improve park resources for the next 10 years based on their research and public input," said Amanda Treadwell, urban area field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.
The final recommendations will be shared with the community in early 2026.
"We're looking forward to hearing from people all across the city of Detroit and beyond about how we can make this treasured destination better for everyone," said Tom Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.
For more information, contact Amanda Treadwell at TreadwellA@Michigan.gov or 313-269-7430.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR seeks public input on prioritizing Belle Isle improvements
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
Back to school already? Why the academic year keeps getting shifted earlier
(NEXSTAR) – It may be the dog days of summer, but it's already time for millions of children around the country to head back to class. The once-common practice of going back to school after Labor Day has grown rare in 2025. In fact, some schools have been back in session for weeks. Schools in Arizona welcomed students back as early as July 16 this year. In Jackson, Mississippi, kids went back on July 28. Elementary schoolers in Chula Vista, California, were in their desks starting July 23. A Pew Research study of 1,500 public school districts in 2023 found wide regional variation in when kids head back to school. The earliest districts resumed instruction in mid-July and the latest start dates were in early September. The most common first week of school that year was Aug. 14 to 18. Why your phone's weather forecast can be way off Schools in the South and Southwest tend to start earlier, Pew found, while New England and Northeast U.S. districts resume the latest. However, there are big exceptions within states and even differences between neighboring districts. Over time the school year has been creeping earlier and earlier. In the 1980s it was more common to start after Labor Day, but August start dates became more common in the 1990s, according to CNN. Why the earlier start? Some schools have adjusted the start of the school year as they add more days off later in the year. In Oakland, California, for example, public schools now have a full week off for Thanksgiving, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. It moved the first day of school up to offset the added vacation. What is 'shoulder season' and why do some travelers swear by it? A local principal, Jonathan Mayer, also told the Chronicle that an August back-to-school date makes some logistics easier. An earlier start means more time to prepare for standardized testing that takes place in the spring, he said. Some districts in hotter climates may also be motivated to get kids back into classrooms, where they know they'll have air conditioning, during the hottest months of the year, Arizona Agenda reports. Finally, an August start date typically aligns better with academic calendars of colleges and universities, which creates fewer conflicts for families with younger and older kids. Some states have bucked the trend of earlier and earlier first days of school by making them illegal. Minnesota, for example, requires schools to start after the Labor Day holiday in September. Supporters of the law say the longer summer helps boost the state's tourism industry. Wisconsin also requires public schools to start after Sept. 1, but exceptions can be granted. Maryland used to have a law forcing a post-Labor Day start, but it was overturned.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Marty Snook Pool is closing soon — here's when you can still swim
Marty Snook Pool at 17901 Halfway Blvd. in Hagerstown will close for the season after Labor Day. The pool has been a popular spot for families and friends throughout the summer, according to a community announcement. As the season wraps up, Washington County Parks and Recreation encourages residents to enjoy the remaining weeks. The final regular weekday for the pool is Friday, Aug. 15. It will be closed Saturday, Aug 16, but open noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. The pool will also be open noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 23-24 and during Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. For more information, contact the Washington County Public Relations and Marketing Department at 240-313-2380 or pr@ This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at The Herald-Mail is growing its local news: Send your news to us This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Final swim days at Marty Snook Pool in Hagerstown Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
DNR seeks public input on prioritizing future Belle Isle improvements
Belle Isle park managers are seeking community input on what improvement projects to prioritize next at the city's island park on the Detroit River. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Belle Isle Conservancy are asking for input on 11 potential investments designed to significantly enhance enjoyment of Belle Isle Park. Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others interested in this beloved park are encouraged to learn more and rank 11 potential large-scale projects. Links to both the project page and online public survey are available at and the survey is open through Labor Day weekend. This public feedback is a key component of the development of a new Belle Isle strategic development plan, which builds upon the 2018 Belle Isle Park Strategic Management Plan, DNR officials said. Potential projects for consideration include: Beach. Extend the beach and renovate the bath house. Boathouse. Restore and reactivate the Belle Isle Boathouse for public use. Park cafe. Create a park cafe at the Belle Isle White House. Canals and trails. Improve access to canals and create trails. Carillon Peace Tower. Renovate the Nancy Brown Carillon Peace Tower. Kids Row. Create a bigger, better Kids Row Playground. Music band shell. Restore and activate the Remick Music Band Shell. Piers and docks. Rebuild piers and docks for fishing and potential ferry service. Sawmill. Create an interpretive center at the historic sawmill. Stable yard. Clean up and activate former stable yard. Community and volunteer space. Create community and volunteer space at the historic police headquarters. This summerlong community outreach effort also includes an on-the-ground team of staff and volunteers who will gather feedback at the park and at various community events throughout Detroit. More: Belle Isle's transformation under state control: What's changed, what's still coming More: Decades of Michigan lake data, hidden in filing cabinets, digitized with volunteer help The strategic development plan team created this list of projects by evaluating park buildings and spaces, reviewing public comments during the recent multimodal study and consulting with staff. Since these are significant undertakings, moving forward on any of them likely would require a strategic funding approach, including philanthropic partnerships. Critical ongoing efforts, such as opening restrooms, slowing vehicle traffic, keeping the bridge open and improving trash pickup, are not listed as potential projects because work is already underway to address them. "This fall, the project team will draft a set of recommendations to improve park resources for the next 10 years based on their research and public input," said Amanda Treadwell, urban area field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. The final recommendations will be shared with the community in early 2026. "We're looking forward to hearing from people all across the city of Detroit and beyond about how we can make this treasured destination better for everyone," said Tom Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. For more information, contact Amanda Treadwell at TreadwellA@ or 313-269-7430. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR seeks public input on prioritizing Belle Isle improvements Solve the daily Crossword
