4 days ago
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.
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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
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