Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts A gathering on the Belle Isle Bridge this weekend is aimed at combatting violence against Black women Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts The “Black Men Unite to Fight Against Our Women and Girls” campaign is being organized in response to recent cases of violent attacks on Black women Minister Troy Muhammad is one of the organizers of the event. He says the Belle Isle Bridge was chosen as the campaign launch site in remembrance of Deletha Word who was beaten by a man on the bridge after a traffic accident in 1995 Word died after either jumping from the bridge to flee the man or being thrown from the bridge The group plans to offer conflict resolution and domestic violence prevention classes and produce billboards and public service announcements in the future Each man in attendance will be asked to be responsible for five other men Do you have a community story we should tell Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org WDET is a community service of Wayne State University CONTACT Membership Sponsorship Studio Rentals Technical Support Pitch Us a Story Help/FAQ Other Inquiries Shows Podcasts Schedule Listen Live Contests & Giveaways SUPPORT WDET Membership Leadership Circle Car Donations Business Sponsorship Broadcast Partners Program More » INSIDE WDET About Staff Jobs & Internships Public File FCC Applications An official website of the United States government JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts and Winthrop is the largest remaining salt marsh in Boston birders have documented 265 species of birds including seven state-listed birds that are endangered or are a species of special concern using the marsh for breeding the marsh was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with the larger 1260-acre Rumney Marsh Boston and many other coastal cities historically filled in natural wetlands as they grew in population Marshes like Belle Isle provide a barrier against strong winds and waves that come from hurricanes and other storms strong waves get pushed into shorelines and high winds blow over the sea both are slowed down when passing through barriers As sand and dirt are naturally moved over time they can barriers that help soften the impacts of strong waves and high winds The robust plant growth in salt marshes keeps these barriers together and minimizes erosion Keeping living shorelines and coastal wetlands intact will keep cities and towns along the coast safer when they are hit by extreme weather and natural disasters The protection and restoration of Belle Isle Marsh is important as it helps protect against flooding and will potentially play a role in the city’s resiliency efforts as Boston prepares for extreme weather and the expected sea level rises that come with it a salt marsh restoration plan was developed by a host of stakeholders including state One of these projects was the site of the former Belle Isle Fish Company EPA's Brownfields program is among the federal state and local partners who came together to protect and enhance Belle Isle through a $1.5 million project that brought a unique and welcoming recreation area to land once contaminated by industry The Belle Isle Marsh was the home to the Belle Isle Fishing Company from 1978 until it closed in about 1991 The company used the area to support its fishing and seafood distribution operations the vacant 1.6-acre property at the entrance to the marsh became a nuisance and subject to dumping of waste from nearby construction projects These wastes included contaminants such as asbestos which can make the property unsafe for people to use and threaten the health of the marsh the City of Boston took ownership of the property with the goal of cleaning it up and transforming it into a safe and welcoming public access point for the marsh the city assessed the property to get a clear picture of how much waste had been dumped there and how contaminated the area had become The city's Parks and Recreation Department during this time developed partnerships with the Mass the Boston Redevelopment Authority won a $200,000 EPA Brownfields cleanup grant to dispose of hazardous contaminants from this property at the entrance to the marsh EPA's funding was only one piece of the puzzle The city invested $393,000 to help with the cleanup which ultimately meant removing nearly 8,600 cubic yards of contaminated soil Some clean debris was able to be re-used on site in creating a walkway the National Marine Fisheries Service awarded a $55,000 grant to help improve the overall health of the marsh This project included breaching formerly constructed dikes to restore tidal flows to the marsh and planting native salt marsh vegetation This $1.5 million collaborative project bringing together the city Department of Conservation and Recreation will be the first step toward establishing a comprehensive management plan for the marsh "The Belle Isle Marsh stands as the last major salt marsh in Boston and it is our continued mission to protect it Through our collective ongoing stewardship efforts the Belle Isle Coastal preserve site has become an important part of the community and the larger Belle Isle estuary The success the project will long be remembered for the effective advocacy of groups like the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh as well as the extensive partnerships created between the grant development and transit agencies involved; together all hands on deck lead to a successful outcome in restoring this area." In addition to providing vital wildlife habitat and a buffer against hurricanes and extreme weather the marsh is now a popular open space used for recreation A parking lot and trailhead provide access to the trails that go through the preserve The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority supports the preserve and monitoring erosion to help keep the trails and walkways clean The park is popular amongst birders because of its unique ecosystem including seven listed species that spend some or all their life cycles there Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes Belle Isle Marsh as one of the most biologically significant estuaries north of Boston and the National Audubon Society recognizes it internationally as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh regularly host events inviting people to enjoy the beauty of the marsh uses the park as an outdoor classroom to teach children about the natural world around them The State awarded the Mystic River Watershed Association a $30,000 Healthy Estuaries grant in July 2020 to inventory environmental conditions of the marsh Commercial and recreational fishing are central to New England’s history and cultural heritage Many species of fish lay eggs in protected areas like salt marshes as an important part of their life cycle These habitats provide safe havens to eggs and developing fish juveniles because larger fish and other predators are too big to swim through the thick marsh grasses Protecting and preserving marshes such as Belle Isle is vital to maintaining and restoring the fish populations Voters in five Orange County municipalities elected local officials to various posts Tuesday The election included a grudge match in Ocoee and a mayoral contest in Belle Isle In Belle Isle voters promoted City Council member Jason Carson to Mayor Unofficial final results showed Carson leading with almost 57% of the vote Commissioners appointed Hart to the position and Oliver won his District 4 seat in an election last year Unofficial results showed Oliver taking 53.4% of the vote on Tuesday In Maitland voters elected a new City Councilperson for Seat 3 Results showed French winning almost 55% of the vote In Windermere voters elected three City Council members out of a five-person field and Tony Davit have all won new terms on the Board beating Rotary Club President Frank Krens and High Gear Specialties Vice President of Sales Jessica Lee And in Winter Park City Commissioner Kris Cruzada defended a Seat 3 position fending off a challenge from lawyer Justin Vermuth The final tabulation showed Cruzada with almost 63% of the vote This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN Belle Isle could see significant changes in coming years if the recommendations of a new study come to pass The Belle Isle Park Multimodal Mobility Study offers a “10-year phased plan to improve safety and mobility.” The joint effort of the Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Belle Isle Conservancy envisions changes across the island to address the challenges of Detroit’s increasingly popular state park and to allow for future growth Belle Isle attendance has increased from about 2 million visitors in 2014 to 5.6 million in 2023 Boosting amenities and infrastructure for pedestrians cyclists and transit users is big on the list of changes but the proposal also seeks to provide “parking where it’s needed” and a more coherent experience for drivers sometimes confused by inadequate signage Recommended improvements are set out in four phases over a decade which follows two years of public engagement through in-person meetings but envisions partnerships as a key source The island became a state park in 2014 as Detroit went through the nation's largest-ever municipal bankruptcy It is the second-most visited state park in the U.S. behind Niagara Falls State Park in New York said she’s confident that the recommendations will largely see their way to completion and everyone wants to do everything,” she said “This plan and process is a very reasonable one” and a “great first step for a lot of things.” Portions of the first phase are already funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the conservancy would raise money to help prioritize other pieces It’s also happening in conjunction with other efforts on the island including plans for a mobility hub and cultural campus in the area of the Belle Isle Aquarium and Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory Elliott described cultural campus planning as “reorienting the thought process around how we use the island.” The Conservatory and Flynn Pavilion have also recently undergone renovations, and the Belle Isle Boathouse could see a major restoration One of the key early changes recommended in the study will be replacing the current wayfinding signs that represent a confusing assemblage from different eras is on the need to shift the island’s transportation focus “With most of the park’s visitors arriving by car this negatively impacts the visitor experience there are periods when congestion at certain points on the island forces the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to close the island to new visitors,” the report said noting that that often prevents people who had to leave the island for one reason or another The situation prompts people to wait in their cars at East Grand and Jefferson until the park once again allows more people in The study’s recommendations begin with reconfiguring that intersection and improving the signal timing as well as making changes to the MacArthur Bridge focused on two lanes of traffic in each direction buffered two-way bike lanes on one side and 10-foot sidewalks Central Avenue would also see major changes Taking inspiration from the “well-known pedestrian-centered street,” La Rambla the design of a proposed promenade would push cars to the outside with people concentrated in the center for much of its length A nonmotorized section would be added to connect Central Avenue to the James Scott Memorial Fountain The concrete paddock installed in connection with the Grand Prix And the opposite end of Central Avenue would feature a two-way protected bike lane and flip the current direction of travel The park has an “astounding number of parking spaces,” estimated at 6,157 with most of the 590 private spaces on the island at the Detroit Yacht Club isn’t “distributed proportionally to best serve visitors,” the study noted so it envisions shifting spaces to locations that need it would launch ferry service to and from the island but Elliott noted that details of that service would require consultation with many stakeholders including the Department of Homeland Security because of the island's proximity to Canada She noted interest in such a service on both sides of the Detroit River Here are a handful of the other recommendations listed in the study: More: Belle Isle lost attractions as maintenance costs went up during decades of decline Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Parents and community members got their first look at OKCPS' new high school on Monday will be located on Wilshire Boulevard just east of the Broadway Extension Developers gave OKCPS board members an update on the status of the school's design on Monday The school was slated to open in August 2026 but OKCPS announced Monday that the opening was delayed until fall 2027 due to "a culmination of factors." renderings were released Monday on what the school will look like The mascot for Belle Isle Enterprise will be the Bulls Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School will feed into the new high school OKCPS sent a note to middle school parents on Monday: You can read OKCPS full letter to parents here. just south and east of Chicken N' Pickle The front entrance to the school will face southwest towards Wilshire There will be a practice football field at the Wilshire site but games will be played at McLaughlin Family Stadium Belle Isle Enterprise will share the stadium with John Marshall High Show Breaking News BarClosePoliticsChristie Zizo ORANGE COUNTY a controversial city commissioner will stay in office and a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers has been blown away Those are some of the races and issues that brought Orange County voters to the polls in city elections on Tuesday Polling precincts were open Tuesday in Belle Isle All of the unofficial results are on the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website. In Belle Isle, District 4 City Commissioner Jason Carson will be the mayor of Belle Isle after beating candidate Anthony Carugno. There were three commission seats also up for election but the District 2 commissioner was reelected unopposed and no one ran for the District 3 and 4 seats Someone will be appointed to those seats at a later date More information is on the Belle Isle website. In Maitland, Scot French was chosen to be Councilmember for Seat 3 after he beat Brad Fess 54.61% to 45.39% Seat 1 was also up for election, but Stephen B. Schoene was the only candidate to qualify and won the seat without opposition. More information is available on the city of Maitland website. In Ocoee, City Commissioner George Oliver III will take the District 4 seat after defeating Ages Hart There was supposed to be a race in District 2 but incumbent Rosemary Wilsen attracted no challengers Ocoee residents will also decide on three charter amendments, which all arose from controversy caused when Oliver resigned his seat to run for mayor in 2023. When he lost, Oliver tried to run for the special election to fill his now vacant seat, but the city tried to block that. Oliver won a lawsuit that allowed him to run and win Around 1,300 voters cast ballots approving all three charter amendments which allow the city commission to interpret and enforce the city charter and block a resigning member of the city commission from running for his seat in a special election during that term of office Those questions are on the city’s website. The city of Ocoee has more information on its government website. The town of Windermere held an election for three town council seats Three council members were up for reelection: Mandy David Two other candidates qualified to run: Frank Krens and Jessica Lee The incumbents were the top three vote-getters Some 1,483 voters cast ballots in the election If you have any questions about the election, you can find contact information and more on the Windermere website. Voters in Winter Park decided to keep incumbent Kris Cruzada on the city commission for Seat 3. Cruzada beat candidate Justin Vermuth Candidate Warren Lindsey was elected to Commission Seat 4 without opposition Voters also decided to repeal a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers which was a heated topic in the city last year The repeal amendment was passed with 54.51% of the vote to 45.49% Information on the election is on the Winter Park website. Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Christie joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021 TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group It was pure Michigan on a recent Sunday on Belle Isle — the sound of metallic blades swooshing and crunching and cutting through the ice while dormant pond grasses and cattails danced in the light winds traveling up the Detroit River As they have for the last four or so years the Detroit Ice Boiz gathered at the island’s Lake Okonoka for some good old-fashioned pond hockey “This is a really unique opportunity for us to enjoy winter,” said 34-year-old Detroiter Dima Lavorskyi (Don’t let the name fool you: There are girlz on the boiz team “I used to play in high school,” said Dana Chicklas Hockey and ice skating on Belle Isle are time-honored traditions Not just because Michigan is sometimes referred to as "Water Winter Wonderland" — it must be true if it's on our license plates — but because the park was built for it Belle Isle was designed in 1881 by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who had a methodology for all his park designs, according to the Belle Isle Conservancy website: “All of Olmsted’s parks follow a design principle of three zones — a formal zone with the formal zone encompassing the Scott Fountain and Sunset Point the active zone encompassing the cultural attractions and athletic fields and the natural zone encompassing the mesic wetland forest.” The natural zone allows a four-season playground for parkgoers but with the progression of global warming Lavorskyi said this winter is the first time in at least three years when the ice has been consistently thick for more than a week He is also a believer in the “build it and they will come” philosophy “We just saw an opportunity to get people together and enjoy time on ice and just have some fun.” All are welcome! Follow the group on Instagram: @detroiticeboiz Gene Hackman’s roles in films like “The French Connection,” “The Conversation,” “Unforgiven,” “Superman,” “’Bonnie & Clyde” and “The Royal Tenenbaums” made him one of the most acclaimed and versatile screen stars of the 20th century was shot partially in Detroit and contains an enduring cinematic image of the Motor City Hackman and his wife and their dog were found dead Wednesday at their home in New Mexico. According to a Thursday report by USA Today the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said it does not suspect foul play but that an "exact cause of death has not been determined." As fans and filmmakers mourned the 95-year-old actor one of the titles mentioned in his list of great performances was 1973’s “Scarecrow.” Starring Hackman and Al Pacino it is a character study of two flawed drifters on a road trip from California to Pittsburgh to start a car wash business Detroit is a stop on their itinerary because Pacino's character has been sending money there to his wife and a child he's never seen One of its best-known scenes involves Hackman and Pacino go into the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle According to TCM director Jerry Schatzberg filmed "Scarecrow" in sequence “starting with the opening scenes in Bakersfield and Detroit.” The movie won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival “Scarecrow,” which had “a special place in Hackman’s heart,” was digitally restored in time for its 40th anniversary and is now considered a masterpiece by some for Hackman and Pacino’s performance and its rambling new wave style The movie also has had an impact on new generations of actors. Cillian Murphy, who won the best actor Oscar for 2023's “Oppenheimer,” has cited “Scarecrow” as one of his favorite movies. Murphy saw the film when he was young and loved it so much that he now “gives it to colleagues who have never seen it, reported IndieWire. “It made a huge impression on me at that age and I was really struck by the performances,” Murphy told Deadline Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com dribbles the puck as he plays pond hockey with the Detroit Ice Boiz at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday A group known as the Detroit Ice Boiz meets up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday repair cracks in the ice as their group known as the Detroit Ice Boiz meets up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday a group known as the Detroit Ice Boiz meets up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday A group of pond hockey players known as the Detroit Ice Boiz keep their beverages cold pond-side as they all meet up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday A group known as the Detroit Ice Boiz meets up for some pickup pond hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday takes over grilling some hot dogs as Chris Chiaravalli 29 wait as they spend the day with the Detroit Ice Boiz pond hockey group that meets up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday goes to check out some pond hockey with her mom as he plays for the first time with the Detroit Ice Boiz pond hockey group as they meet up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday helps clean up the pond ice in between hockey games with the Detroit Ice Boiz as they meet up for some pickup pond hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday decides who will play on a 3 against 3 pickup pond hockey game by randomly taking everyone’s hockey sticks and tossing them to either side of the rink to determine the teams as they join up with the Detroit Ice Boiz who meet up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday A group known as the Detroit Ice Boiz meets up for some pickup hockey at Lake Okonaka on Belle Isle on Sunday as he enjoys chowing down on a hot dog as his dad plays pickup hockey with the Detroit Ice Boiz at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday takes a break from the cold wind and from playing pond hockey with the Detroit Ice Boiz at Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle on Sunday Restoration of the historic Belle Isle Boathouse is progressing as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has selected a proposal after years of debate on preserving the structure The chosen proposal is a $30 million-$35 million public-private restoration plan called the Belle Isle Gateway project It aims to turn the boathouse into a year-round community hub with new amenities to boost both land- and water-based activities — with a new public marina the lead developer of the project and principal of the selected Detroit-based company called the proposal "a working document" that was put together in the span of eight weeks due to a state deadline "We still have some steps to go before it's a done deal," he told the Free Press "There's still a lot more in the exploratory stage but we basically want to restore the building and make sure it becomes a community asset Ahead of a public meeting set for Thursday at Belle Isle’s Flynn Pavilion the Free Press obtained the project proposal through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources which is responsible for overseeing Belle Isle as a state park through a lease with the city the renovated site will be equally anticipated create countless jobs and will offer a number of exciting new assets for the local community." Elevating visitor experience by expanding accessibility activitiesWhile Belle Isle is a major destination for boating unless you belong to the Detroit Yacht Club there's no place for anyone on the isle — a fisherman a casual boat or someone with a sailboat— to actually dock on the island," Carleton said adding that a new marina at the Belle Isle Boathouse could fix that a public marina would give people the option to boat to the island and dock at the rehabilitated facility Also in the proposed plan are three new dining options that include a dock-and-dine casual eatery a formal restaurant in the historic Oak Room and an ice cream parlor the boathouse's original grand ballroom will return to hosting weddings and special events Developers also aim to offer outdoor courts for seasonal activities the project could provide Detroit residents and visitors with access to Belle Isle from multiple locations along the Detroit River using water taxis as well as on-island shuttles to reach various attractions these services may take some time to implement "It just creates that opportunity for these exciting things that the island has danced around for a long time," he said The building previously housed the Detroit Boat Club and currently is under lease by the Friends of Detroit Rowing Significant damage has occurred to the structure in recent years The rehabilitated Belle Isle boathouse would continue hosting the longstanding sailing and rowing programs run by Friends of Detroit Rowing and the Detroit Community Sailing Center the project will create an updated and elaborate space for the two groups "My goal here initially was really just to restore this incredible structure But then I became enamored (with) the two programs there," Carleton said "They are doing great work in the community getting people more involved on the waterfront The sailing and rowing programs have faced restrictions since the partial porch collapse in 2022 The renovation would provide modern facilities expand programming space and increase community access and its partners estimate renovations to cost around $30 million-$35 million — which will be financed through a mix of nonprofit A newly established nonprofit organization guaranteeing public access while also seeking philanthropic and for-profit donations "It's really going to be a mixed bag of financing The nonprofit arm would just allow us to receive donations from individuals or foundations," Carleton said public meeting is set for Thursday at the Belle Isle Flynn Pavilion Carleton will outline his plan to the Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee and receive questions and comments from the committee and the public Detroit officials and key stakeholders will follow — including the Friends of Detroit Rowing the Detroit Community Sailing Center and Belle Isle Conservancy The goal is to address outstanding questions and determine the necessary steps regarding the proposal It's just a proposal; that doesn't necessarily mean everything in that proposal will get done and it doesn't mean nothing in the proposal will get done," Bissett said is probably what we have to look forward to." the project could begin in early 2025 and the Belle Isle Boathouse could be open to the public by late 2027 Renovations will begin with the outside of the facility We need to deal with the failing part of the deck that happened two or three years ago and then that exterior of the concrete material that's literally peeling away we're going to strip that down," Carleton said "We got to protect the shell so that we can get inside and make the improvements we need." Restoration teams plan to remove unsuitable materials repair the brick substructure and preserve the building's original design Carleton previously restored Detroit’s Grand Army of the Republic Building the castle-like triangular building located at the intersection of Cass Grand River and Adams avenues in downtown Detroit "My last project was saving a Civil War-era building in downtown Detroit which started to tell that part of the city's history I didn't think I'd have another opportunity like this to do something so meaningful so I'm obviously thrilled at the chance," he said we come to an agreement with the state and the city Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter After a more than two-year study of transportation on Belle Isle the Belle Isle Conservancy and the state have finalized recommendations to improve travel on the island park Michigan Department of Transportation and the conservancy the 2.5-year study has led to the "Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan," which outlines a 10-year strategy to help visitors move through the park The plan focuses on making the island safer for pedestrians It outlines dozens of different improvements that can be made and breaks it down into four phases.Here is the breakdown by phase Phase one is expected to take place in 2025; phase two in 2026; phase three between 2027-2029 and phase four between 2030 and 2035 The organizations said that the DNR Parks and Recreation Division will soon develop a plan that will outline additional priorities "The development of a strategic plan for Belle Isle will help us look at all the work that needs to be done in a holistic manner and develop a list of priorities that reflect the community’s needs and aspirations," said Amanda Treadwell urban field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division many people shared their ideas for improving the park We want to build on what we’ve already learned and we're excited to continue this collaboration with our visitors and stakeholders." You can read the executive summary below, or read the full report on the Belle Isle website The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle will open this week after a more than two-year renovation project closed the Detroit gem The conservatory closed in November 2022 for a $10 million renovation project It included replacing the glass panes in the dome with the goal of stabilizing the building to keep it open for the next century It opened to the public in 1904 and features a collection of exotic plants plus a 13-acre outdoor garden That garden reopened to the public in early September See inside the conservatory in the video below The conservatory is scheduled to open on Wednesday, Dec. 4, according to a social media post from the Belle Isle Conservancy. “Today we’re grateful to announce the reopening of Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Dec. 4! A true gem, ready to welcome visitors once again,” the post read. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The conservatory closed in November 2022 to undergo $10 million in renovations. This work was the final phase of renovations for the conservatory, and included updating the upper 60 feet of its 80-foot glass dome. Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is ready for its big reveal The 120-year-old conservatory is scheduled to reopen to the public Wednesday after being closed for more than two years for major restoration work the Belle Isle Conservancy announced in a social media post on Thanksgiving ready to welcome visitors again," read the post The conservatory with its glass-domed greenhouse shut down to visitors in November of 2022 for $10 million in renovations including replacing 1,500 glass panes in the dome so the exotic plants inside could better survive the cold Midwestern winters The updates were the latest round of restoration work officials hope will stabilize the historic Detroit structure so it'll stand for another 100 years The conservatory is named after the daughter of The Detroit News' founder it was gifted 600 rare orchids from Whitcomb’s private collection Considered the oldest continually running conservatory in the United States it is divided into five sections: the Palm House which also include the formal gardens and what's called the Lily Pond State officials worked with Ideal Contracting as the general contractor managing the project and a glasshouse design and preservation consultant who is considered an expert on public conservatories and historic glasshouses The outdoor garden portion of the conservatory DETROIT – The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center will remain closed on Wednesday due to the continued forecast of extremely cold temperatures across Metro Detroit The closure has been implemented to provide guests and animals who call the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center home will remain on-site to ensure the animals receive the exceptional care they need The Detroit Zoological Society leadership team will closely monitor the latest weather forecasts and will reopen for regular daytime hours once it is determined that reopening can be done safely Once it is determined that reopening can be done safely the society will reopen for regular daytime hours 21 or 22 will have their tickets honored for daytime zoo admissions on any future visit refunds will not be issued if guests decide not to visit later Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. developers presented plans to the public for the restoration of the Belle Isle Boathouse The historic building could see two restaurants who restored the Grand Army of the Republic Building over 10 years ago The Michigan DNR put out a call for proposals for the historic boathouse a year ago and received five letters of intent The team selected this proposal because it's open to the public and the team has the qualifications to do it Carleton presented to a packed room on Thursday night with an additional 50 people calling into the meeting It should be noted that this isn't a completely finished plan yet The team still needs to work out legal terms - it would be a lease and the city owns the building Funding for the $34 million project will come from a variety of public and private entities A nonprofit will be created for donations and grant funding Then they need all the approvals that come with a project of this scope.  One important aspect of the proposal is that it needs to be revenue-generating and sustainable Plans currently call for two restaurants - one more casual for visitors coming in on their boats or passing through; and another more formal option A take-out ice cream place is also part of the plan it held about 50 weddings a year - that event space will be revived there would be room for recreation like bocce ball and curling This plan will also support the current successful rowing and sailing programs Carleton says a lot of the heavy lifting will come with the restoration of the exterior of the building and that some of the interior spaces are in pretty good condition He wants to get started earlier than later as the building could have trouble in its current state with two more Michigan winters Carleton also mentioned they're looking into water-generated electricity there could be shuttles around the island on both land and water The project is led by Carelton and Stuart-Pitman Restoration and preservation efforts would be led by the Christman Company who recently finished work on Michigan Central Station but after hearing feedback from the public There are still modifications and steps to take before anything is finalized. In the meantime, the proposal can be found at the Detroit Boathouse Conservancy. The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center will reopen for regular daytime hours on Thursday (Jan The reopening was announced Wednesday after closely monitoring weather forecasts and ensuring safe conditions the Detroit Zoological Society team is excited to welcome guests back to the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak and the Belle Isle Nature Center in Detroit The facilities had been closed on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 due to extreme cold weather impacting the region The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory — the century-old glass-domed structure in Detroit's Belle Isle Park — reopened Wednesday after two years of extensive renovations urban district supervisor with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources described the importance of the renovations in a statement “The conservatory has not received significant capital investment since the 1950s,” Bissett said “These renovations have now enhanced the structural integrity of the dome prioritized public safety and improved conditions for the plant collection.” The conservatory is a draw for both what it grows — it features "an indoor display of over 2,000 plants from around the world and a lily-koi pond," according to a DNR statement in addition to unique horticultural and aquatic collections — and its architecture an urban area field planner with the state DNR said the conservatory is a key part of Belle Isle's national recognition "Belle Isle Park is on the National Register of Historic Places so the whole park as a whole is recognized as a national historic resource," she said "The conservatory and aquarium is a very important contributing resource to that status." The DNR said a total of $10 million was available for the project "including $7.5 million of federal COVID-19 relief funding and a $2.5 million private donation given to the Belle Isle Conservancy for purpose of restoring the conservatory." Admittance to the newly reopened conservatory is free although a recreation passport is required for vehicles entering Belle Isle Park Building a separate two-way bike path for cyclists on Belle Isle is the top recommendation for improving travel around the beloved Detroit park according to a recently released mobility plan The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan Department of Transportation and Belle Isle Conservancy spearheaded a 2.5-year-long study about transportation issues on the island and how to bolster mobility around the island that wrapped up in late 2024 The groups collected public feedback and ideas for improving navigation around Belle Isle Getting to and from the island over the MacArthur Bridge has been the biggest concern for the Detroit Greenways Coalition there's a "huge concrete separation between the bikes and sidewalks" that should instead exist between the cars and bikes "The current bike lanes are just totally inadequate," Scott said "They feel unsafe for a lot of folks and they also collect so much debris." MDOT and conservancy issued a slate of recommendations for improving Belle Isle transportation on Thursday In addition to improving the MacArthur Bridge bike lane and connecting it to the nearby Detroit International Riverwalk That was another cyclist safety measure Scott wanted to see but isn't among the recommendations publicized by the groups Thursday "If you design a road to look like a freeway Speeding is a problem on Belle Isle, according to DNR law enforcement who last year announced they were issuing more tickets to drivers Although speed limits on the island are 25 mph some drivers have been clocked at speeds up to 70 A 12-year-old Dearborn girl was killed on Belle Isle by a speeding driver who plowed his vehicle onto the beach in May of 2022 The driver left the scene but later was arrested and charged with murder Some of the recommendations released by the DNR MDOT and conservancy can take place this year such as building the last phase of the Ralph C Trail and re-painting Central Avenue to better define driving lanes crosswalks and parking spaces will take place in 2025 Some directional signage also will be installed this year Other recommendations will require more funding to see through The department will develop a plan for Belle Isle to outline additional priorities We want to build on what we've already learned Detroit — More than 100 people eager to learn more about a proposed restoration plan for the century-old Belle Isle Boathouse flocked to a meeting on the island with many hopeful it moves forward The Belle Isle Advisory Committee scheduled Thursday's special session at Belle Isle's Flynn Pavilion to elicit feedback from the public Bloomfield Hills developer David Carleton and his partners presented their development plan − which includes restoring the building and adding restaurants − to the public and answered questions Many Detroiters who attended welcomed the proposed rehabilitation but wanted more information on everything from how minority- and women-owned businesses would be a part of the renovation process to whether it could incorporate sustainable energy practices The 79-year-old won a bronze medal in the 1968 Olympic Games "I'm happy to tell you that this boathouse is a historic boathouse and I hope that it continues to produce love and kindness to our community and have the world see it," Maher said Two bids were submitted in late July to restore the boathouse which the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has deemed structurally unsound State officials wanted to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to tear down the structure but switched gears and agreed to seek bids to restore it after a public survey found people wanted it saved the $2 million in ARPA funds that had been earmarked to demo the boathouse were reallocated to other projects on the island the DNR's urban district supervisor with the parks and recreation division The DNR manages the park with input from the seven-member advisory committee "As of today I had to submit a finalized list to the state budget office for ARPA dollars," Bissett said "Every single dollar for ARPA had to be allocated by the end of business today that $2 million has to be spent on another project on the island which state natural resources officials selected to move forward includes restoring the 40,000-square-foot Venetian style building to include two year-round restaurants a public marina with room for 100 boats and an ice cream shop Sixty-five-year-old Detroiter Katie Meister volunteers at the Belle Isle Aquarium on most weekends and said an affordable "The worst thing we ever have to do is tell people no especially when they have a large family of little children," Meister said "They are looking for a low-price restaurant said there is a lack of waterfront places where the public can dock larger boats outside of just private clubs and Sindbad's across the river and there's nowhere that you can bring a boat up to and dock while you're out to find some food "I think there's a very large missing piece of having this beautiful waterfront and this beautiful island and all there is to appreciate about it and not being able to utilize it." The project would also fill in the boathouse pools to make space for year-round recreational programming and restore the ballroom to an event space available for rent Most importantly it would continue to serve as a home to the city's sailing and rowing clubs "What is so important here with this project is community access and now it's time for a new day at the boathouse," Carleton said Further down the line Carleton envisions shuttles taking visitors around the island to the boathouse or even water taxis shuttling people from places such as Hart Plaza to Belle Isle whether you come to the island and start there whether you spend a day at the beach," Carleton said The project is expected to cost between $35 million and $40 million and stabilization would be the immediate priority Replacing the roof and stabilizing the exterior of the boathouse would cost between $2 million and $3 million The project would need a mix of private and public financing and Carleton would create a nonprofit organization to accept donations and apply for environmental and historical grant funding chair of Detroit's Historic Designation Advisory Board said recent efforts to restore Detroit's historic buildings from Michigan Central Station to the Book Tower have seen a groundswell of support "I'm elated to see another major renovation project in its early stages at least being considered for a rebuild," Jackson said at Thursday's meeting "It's great to see this interest level in this city to preserving our history." rows with the Detroit Boat Club on Belle Isle and proposed making the boathouse a net zero building or one that makes as much or more energy than it consumes every year using renewable resources "I think it would be a missed opportunity if this project didn't look at some of the opportunities to make this a net zero building especially with the riverfront and the opportunities for geothermal," Kuneman The DNR will continue meeting with Carleton and his team to discuss the proposal Updates will be presented at every park advisory committee monthly meeting starting Nov "I would just invite folks to communicate with us more If there are other things that you're not seeing or other questions that you have," committee member Meagan Elliott said One of the beauties of public art is that it both tells us who we are and reminds us of who we were and we were irate about a bust of the great poet Dante Alighieri ordered in tribute by a largely immigrant Italian American population Retreat to Thursday on Belle Isle and people were jubilant over the refurbishing of a better bust a finished project unveiled with a mayoral proclamation and an authentic Italian Carabinieri officer in a majestic plumed hat generally known in English by his first name now reigns above the corner of Vista and Central avenues with his restored white head and shoulders atop a new As for his somewhat obscure connection to the park it's tied to the likeness nobody liked — meaning the original bust was a bust — and then a replacement that was much better He represents metro Detroit's vibrant Italian American community He also harkens silently to more difficult times for many ethnic groups in the city — and fortuitously which means he's unlikely to be splashed with paint or yanked to the ground That's a lot to connect to a sunlit two-hour celebration near a picnic area and the Detroit River but Dante is a towering figure even when he's not chiseled in marble and it took a fair amount of love and money to return him to glory Italy's writer and uniterA good place to start explaining everything is Dante himself a writer and philosopher who was born in 1265 in Florence and died at 56 in Ravenna He is mostly revered for "The Divine Comedy," a narrative poem that famously outlined the nine circles of hell at a time when serious thoughts were expected to be expressed in Latin More: Belle Isle welcomes back Detroit Goodfellows founder statue More: Bone cancer survivor swims across Belle Isle to raise money for research "He is the father of the Italian language," said Lia Adelfi, 64, of West Bloomfield, the president of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan "He unified Italy before it was really unified." Her booster organization for Italian culture helped foot a bill of nearly $100,000 for the pedestal joined by the Societa Dante Alighieri mother ship in Rome when Italians here were still struggling for respect they raised money for a likeness of Dante to be placed in the main branch of the Detroit Public Library Whether blame lay with prominent Italian sculptor Carlo Rivalta or squabbles among committees but it was too large for the display space and was shuffled into storage The city planning commission finally saw the light — or la luce if you prefer — and approved the spot on Belle Isle two years later Dante's position on the island has become a nice piece of real estate a former hero of Detroit's German population has grown obscure and obscured Influential writer Johann von Schiller was cast in bronze after a fundraising campaign the year before Ford launched the Model T 1907," says the inscription carved into the pedestal Tucked in a grassy alcove with a brown slat fence as a backdrop But he served his purpose as a point of pride and legitimacy for a population working to be respected Former Detroit Historical Museum curator Joel Stone once referred to dueling monuments as genial ethnic jousting. The Germans bankrolled Schiller, and in 1910, Italians commissioned a bronze bust of Columbus amid complaints from some donors that he deserved an entire statue students were still being told he discovered America when Black Lives Matter protests were roiling America Someone draped a red-on-white placard around the neck of his monument near the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: "Looter Slave trader." The artwork was hauled into storage and later donated to a local Italian American group Americans forget that President Benjamin Harrison instituted the first one as a peace offering after 11 Italian immigrants were lynched in New Orleans and Italy cut off relations with the United States arrived in Detroit in 2021 with a 4-year-old and an infant and can speak to one grandparent in English and then translate what he said in Italian for the other also have a baby boy — "Made in Detroit," she said where the museum of design was closed for renovations for her entire stay with their embellishments by architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci where her first official event was a 700-year commemoration of Dante's demise back when the bust was stained and the supports were pitted when the original base and pedestal were broken apart she didn't think to include one in the new construction "We feel confident that it should be around another hundred years." Neal Rubin and consul Allegra Baistrocchi share a fondness for SheWolf Pastificio in Detroit where the cuisine reminds her of her native Rome which gives her a year to try his favorite Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast we cover Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s announcement that he will run for governor of Michigan in 2026; the highly anticipated reopening of the Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit and more Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced today that he’s running to become the next governor of Michigan. The longtime Democrat released a video statement Wednesday morning stating his intentions to run as an independent he shared his motivations behind the approach to his political decision by having a conversation about whether its time for a whole new approach What would happen if we upended the system and gave Michigan voters a new choice A governor who didn’t run as a candidate of either party?” he said Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and cannot run for another four years in office Political analysts say Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson could be a possible front runner for the Democratic nomination for governor 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon may consider another run for the office The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle officially reopened on Wednesday after two years of extensive renovations designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn underwent a $10 million repair project that included the replacement of more than 1,500 panes of glass The conservatory showcases a wide variety of plants from around the world the beloved Detroit landmark will be open to the public from 10 a.m Related: What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse? Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield issued a news release Wednesday saying she’ll make an announcement about her political future at an event planned for next Tuesday Sheffield will be joined by supporters and community members at the IBEW Local 58 Union Hall in Detroit from 6-8 p.m Highlights will include a performance by the Detroit Youth Choir and remarks from local stakeholders The Great Lakes Water Authority is holding a number of public meetings around the region to talk about flooding will inform residents about projects to ease flooding and get their feedback about plans that are being developed Wednesday’s meeting will take place from 3-7 p.m in the atrium at the Dearborn Administrative Offices on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Sterling Heights and Grosse Pointe later this month The Detroit Lions are preparing for a Thursday game against the Green Bay Packers.  The Lions are tied for the best record in the NFL with 11 wins and just one loss Several others are vying for position in next month’s playoffs Division rival Green Bay is one of those teams with a record of nine wins and three losses The game will be televised on Amazon Prime and Fox 2 Detroit And if you’re headed over to Ford Field to tailgate Temperatures will drop into the lower 20s for game time WDET is celebrating 75 years of people powered radio during our 2024 Holiday Fundraiser, now through Dec. 7. Become a member and invest in WDET’s next chapter of news Donate today » This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page It took me a long time to see the beauty in Belle Isle Detroit’s island gem always felt like too much car congestion The roads felt like an asphalt noose wrapped around the greenery that is there Way too much of a literal Motor City vibe leaving me choking on exhaust instead of feeling like I’d escaped from the city There’s beauty in the historic architecture that’s there today but I’m not really sure it should’ve been built at all I’ve got the original designer of Belle Isle on my side with that one Pioneering landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted wanted it untouched by the human hand of the green pastures” should take center stage “Openness is the one thing you cannot get in buildings,” Olmsted wrote “What we want to gain is tranquility and rest to the mind.” Although the Department of Natural Resources hit its 10-year anniversary of running Belle Isle in February 2024 and has studies and community input sessions being conducted about what it should look like as the second most visited state park in the U.S. I’m realizing it’s truly the public that has helped me find beauty in the “Jewel of Detroit” by seeing how beautiful we make it just by being there together This sense of beauty is captured in the photos of Niki Williams and Belle Isle lovers helped me see that while I was struggling to find my escape on the island others were making the most of the water and the views including the sunset you can watch from the western point of the island as the sun slowly engulfs the skyline “It’s like a big exhale as the sun goes down,” says Williams who has a great knack for capturing people in their element And getting away to Belle Isle is clearly a big exhale for those who make it what they want — by embarking on a romantic getaway on the westside tip turning a picnic shelter into a stage for an epic family reunion or getting as lost as you can in the woods to the east that’s been the secondhand effect of seeing Belle Isle through the lens of Williams Like some of the couples he’s captured with his camera I’ve fallen back in love with this 982-acre island park by seeing how much it means to others and getting more creative about how I use it there are stunning patches of beauty littered throughout Belle Isle you can make it exactly what you want it to be Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of In the Groove on 101.9 WDET Detroit’s NPR station (weekdays from noon to 3 p.m.) This story originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on July 8 Detroit — Plans to save the deteriorating but historic Belle Isle boathouse are moving forward and the public finally will get a chance to view and give feedback on a development proposal next month During a meeting of the Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee Thursday the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said they are moving forward with one of two development proposals submitted at the end of July to restore the landmark No new details about the proposal and what it proposes were released The DNR runs the park while the seven-member committee composed of politically appointed members of the public The committee has no vote on whether the boathouse will be restored "We received two group submissions after our initial process proposals has been moved forward for further consideration," said Tom Bissett the DNR's Urban District Supervisor within the Parks and Recreation division The committee scheduled a special session on the proposal for Nov The developers will present their proposal and answer questions from the committee All but $400,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act funds given to Belle Isle have been allocated just over two months before the December 2024 deadline to commit those dollars. The state previously approved $2 million in ARPA funding which would cover the cost of demolishing the boathouse Now the question of whether ARPA funds are used to address the boathouse will depend on the outcome of the development proposal "It really just depends on how things wash out with that proposal," Bissett said that money can pivot over to something else and that would free $2 million of obligation we have for another project." The DNR accepted proposals to rehabilitate and restore the boathouse earlier this year Two made it through the initial review by DNR officials but only one will be presented to the committee and the public "I've had internal meetings with DNR staff and with Parks and Recreation staff going over the proposal and obviously formulating some of the questions that we have that will assist us with filling in the blanks and making sure that we have all the pertinent information to properly move forward with a proposal," Bissett said The boathouse was built in 1902 but decades of neglect have left the three-story facility in a state of disrepair. Some efforts have been made to stabilize the structure but the rate of deterioration outpaces them, according to the DNR which took over management of Belle Isle in 2014 The boathouse was condemned in 2022 and is currently deemed unsafe and at risk for structural failure In 2019 the estimated cost of rehabilitation was $43 million The DNR has previously said it cannot fund restoration of the boathouse. Plans to remove the building were put on hold after a survey earlier this year indicated the public would like to see it saved If the state agency does partner with a private developer the building would need to include a "significant public component that would benefit park users and be consistent with the mission of Belle Isle Park," according to the DNR's website Outside groups must also have the financial means to restore the building the giant slide at Belle Isle is reopening this week and offering free rides for local residents The six-lane slide at Belle Isle Park will allow you to ride for free on Friday The slide will resume regular hours after the 19th More: Riverfront Conservancy closer to complete riverwalk after Morouns walk back concrete plant plans More: Detroit's Belle Isle Beach closed for high E. coli, again More: Belle Isle Giant Slide's wild rides featured on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' in new song "We're excited to open the iconic giant slide for the 2024 season," said Tom Bissett urban district manager for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division said in a news release we've replaced the slide’s landing surface and ensured all safety protocols are in place." The slide has a 48-inch height requirement It reopened back in 2022 after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic In this episode of “CuriosiD,” we answer a question about the heyday of the iconic ornately-designed structure and what the future holds for the historic site WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts “What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?” better known as the “Detroit side,” sits a 40,000-square-foot building only a few have entered in years It’s one of a handful of iconic landmarks on the island and also one of many buildings in the city which have faced the threat of demolition The Belle Isle Boathouse was built in 1902 and designed by Detroit architect Alpheus Chittenden The structure blends Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival architectural styles including balustrades with sea horses and ornate dolphins The boathouse has been the home of Detroit’s only rowing club for more than 100 years vice president of the board of Friends of Detroit Rowing “The atrium is lined with trophy cases and there’s a lot of really nice hand-carved woodwork up here,” Platt told me during a private tour of the boathouse “There are balustrades with sea horses carved into them and incredibly ornate dolphins on each post.” The boathouse’s history is far more vibrant than a simple rowing hub As the former home of the Detroit Boat Club the building was a popular social center — hosting numerous events and gatherings for members over the decades dining rooms and a bar frequented by Detroit’s elite The club’s athletic achievements are also impressive producing both Olympians and national rowing champions it’s been really successful,” Platt said and we’re probably better known nationally and internationally than we are here in Detroit.” The club’s collection of rowing memorabilia includes trophies even Olympic metals donated by past members where club members once dined in formal dress and the Island Room — once housing a significant art collection — are just a few of the unique spaces within the boathouse was a popular gathering spot for high society reminiscent of the Mad Men era and probably make some side deals,” Platt said “This is where a lot of the elite from the city would come and congregate.” the boathouse as it stands today faces significant challenges Friends of Detroit Rowing has maintained the iconic structure since the 1990s but years of increasingly harsh weather and difficulties keeping up with repairs have taken a toll on the building “When [Friends of Detroit Rowing] kind of took over responsibility for the building we would keep up the areas that we needed for our programming but we also expanded our maintenance and upkeep when we started hosting events here,” Platt said The group has hosted several fundraising events to help their restoration efforts with proceeds reinvested into preservation projects those who want to save the boathouse say much work is still needed to ensure its survival for future generations The Michigan Department of Natural Resources took over the facility’s lease when it assumed management of the island in 2014 the agency deemed the building structurally unsound due to significant deterioration The DNR condemned the building a year later after an exterior porch collapsed Platt says more damage has occurred due to members of the rowing club being unable to access the building for repairs Earlier this year, the DNR announced plans to demolish the building due to limited funding for the facility’s upkeep — unless a private investor steps forward to help the agency restore it a movement to save the Belle Isle Boathouse has gained steam State officials placed an open call for proposals to rehabilitate the building in March 2024 Those proposals are currently being evaluated with a deadline of July 31 for acceptance by the DNR Erin Rose Briggs is a program manager at a company in the battery and electric vehicle space She lives in Detroit and often bikes around Belle Isle Briggs shared her experiences and thoughts with WDET about the Belle Isle Boathouse which she bikes past every time she visits Belle Isle If there’s a question swimming around in your head, let us know here or fill out the form below — City of Richmond Urban Park Rangers are not authorized to be armed and are in the process of getting ballistic vests the Director of Public Affairs for the Richmond Police Department Detectives with the Richmond Police Department continue to investigate a reported shooting of an Urban Park Ranger on Belle Isle Sunday afternoon The ranger said he was in a wooded area of the park offering a man information about a homeless shelter a little before 2 p.m according to Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: Richmond Police update shooting on Belle Isle (Sunday “The male asked him to help him get up off the ground the victim reported the male immediately produced a firearm and then fled in a SE direction on the island,” Edwards said Edwards said the ranger was “luckily" wearing a bulletproof vest and only sustained minor injuries Police said they completed their search for the suspect Sunday night but did not locate them Mercante said that “earlier this month the Department of Parks Recreation & Community Facilities began the process of updating their policies and procedures to include the addition of ballistic vests for Urban Park Rangers.” He added that the two staff members who are a part of the Urban Park Ranger program got fitted for the vests last week and “the procurement process is underway.” "The Urban Park Ranger involved in this incident has a high level of training and experience and was wearing his own ballistic vest yesterday,” Mercante said Anyone with information is asked to contact Major Crimes Detective S Brown at (804) 646-6456 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous This is a developing story. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy with the perfect getaway — right up until her kid's prom photos started getting shared An unnamed local woman was cited for trespassing at Belle Isle State Park's fenced-off the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division reported To use the dilapidated zoo buildings as a cool backdrop for her son's and his girlfriend's prom photos The incident took place sometime in mid- to late-August according to the most recent biweekly report of DNR law enforcement activities posted to the agency's website According to the report of DNR conservation officers Martin Lawrence and Dan Walzak and said she was the one who took the prom photos "The subject stated that she found information online about the Belle Isle Zoo (as well as other abandoned buildings in the area) and explained that the website also included information on how to 'sneak into' the different venues," the officers' report states "The subject admitted that she was aware that entering the zoo was unlawful but she wanted to use the zoo as the site for the pictures," the report states "After explaining the dangers of being in the abandoned zoo along with the fact that it is unlawful the subject stated that she completely understood taking full responsibility." She was then issued a citation for trespassing Neal Rubin: Nearly 100-year-old Dante monument's connection to Belle Isle is somewhat obscure More: Your guide to freighter watching in southeast Michigan: What to know A zoo was first established on Belle Isle in 1895 operated there until relocating to its current location in Royal Oak in 1928 The Belle Isle facilities then converted to a children's zoo later named Safariland with an eclectic mix of animals The increasingly cash-strapped city of Detroit ultimately closed the zoo by the early 2000s boardwalk and other amenities began to crumble The DNR took over management of Belle Isle as a state park in February 2014 The former zoo remained closed and fenced off The DNR last May announced plans to demolish the zoo complex buildings and restore the area to nature trails and passive amenities "The Belle Isle old zoo property has been fenced in closed and posted 'No Trespassing' for quite some time Trespassers include people seeking out "ruin porn," committing vandalism and spraying graffiti law enforcement officers were following up on photos that were posted online," Bissett said missing manhole covers and an old boardwalk missing boards and portions of guardrail Places abound to fall into the Detroit River or into pits of old fallen trees "It's really important for people to not go back there," Bissett said now you are putting first responders in danger That's if we even learn that you are in there is that Belle Isle has countless fantastic backdrops for prom or similar types of photos "But the Belle Isle Zoo is off-limits," he said Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com The Detroit Historical Society is honoring lost mariners during its annual Lost Mariners Remembrance this weekend in Detroit It's the 25th year the society has held the event which also marks the anniversary of the sinking of the S.S WATCH BELOW: Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: What makes the gales of November 10 at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle It will start with a lantern ceremony at the S.S a final blessing and then the playing of the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for the general public Assistance from Comerica will help provide free access to the aquarium every Thursday in August and help support preservation and restoration of the park DETROIT, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Belle Isle Conservancy is extending the aquarium's hours of operation to provide community members free access every Thursday in August with support from Comerica Bank will not only enable the aquarium to be open an extra day every week in August but will also aid in the ongoing restoration of the building Comerica is hosting a park cleanup for its Comerica Cares team of volunteers on Saturday 10 to give back to the city and continue helping make Belle Isle the "Jewel of Detroit." "We're grateful for this support from Comerica Bank and excited to provide families an extra day of enjoyment and learning before the summer is over," said Meagan Elliott Belle Isle Conservancy Chief Executive Officer "And for those who have never been to the Belle Isle Aquarium now is your chance to come see why it was recently ranked the most beautiful aquarium in America!"  Comerica's assistance includes support of Belle Isle Conservancy's birthday event on Sunday 18 commemorating 120 years of environmental preservation The celebration will include family-friendly activities featuring bounce houses as well as a hands-on dockside science activity to educate visitors about the freshwater ecosystem within Belle Isle's canals "Comerica and the Belle Isle Aquarium have long served Detroit and as we approach our own historic 175th anniversary we felt it fitting to support another notable institution that has given back so much to the city," explained Steve Davis "It's crucial we uphold and preserve our natural surroundings and historical landmarks ensuring our city thrives and that future generations can enjoy the park's distinctive environment." The Belle Isle Aquarium is located at 3 Inselruhe Ave No tickets are required but a $5 donation is encouraged Comerica's commitment to the community is bolstered through direct support to transformative nonprofit organizations and by Comerica colleagues volunteering thousands of hours improving the communities where they both live and work Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation have contributed more than $49 million to philanthropic organizations in its markets and Comerica colleagues have volunteered over 320,000 hours which translates to more than $10.2 million worth of donated time 175 Years of Raising ExpectationsThis year Comerica Bank is celebrating 175 years of serving its communities Comerica was founded in 1849 in Detroit during a time when all banks in the city were exclusive to the business community This was the motivation behind Comerica's decision to gear its banking for the people and for those who wanted to secure their personal and financial future Comerica has grown in Michigan and throughout the country by focusing on the customer first and offering personal small business and commercial banking services Comerica Bank is taking a big swing during National Small Business Week (May 4-10) to support small business incubation by contributing $250,000 to.. Comerica Bank and Iron Mountain Incorporated the global leader in storage and information management services Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions Banking & Financial Services Travel Corporate Social Responsibility Do not sell or share my personal information: Detroit — A proposed redevelopment of the century-old Belle Isle boathouse would open the historic Detroit landmark to the public along with a home for the city's rowing and sailing clubs Bloomfield Hills developer David Carleton would be the project director if the proposed plans are approved The proposal was prepared by Carleton's firm Stuart Pitman Inc. was one of at least two submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources earlier this year and will be presented to the public and the Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee at a meeting Thursday The Michigan DNR manages the park and hasn't released any details about the proposals it accepted to restore the boathouse Carleton expects the project to cost around $35 million and said it would be funded through a mix of public and private financing "We think we have a pretty strong donor list," Carleton said I'm hoping to look at grants and various foundations across the state and then we'll make up the difference with traditional lending." Carleton's proposal comes after DNR officials contemplated tearing down the boathouse because of severe structural issues Officials sought bids to restore the boathouse after a public survey found park patrons wanted the building saved The Belle Isle Gateway project includes plans for at least two restaurants a casual "dock and dine" restaurant and a more formal dining establishment There would also be an ice cream parlor at the boathouse Carleton said he'd also install a new marina with public "The building itself has been a private club in the past It's all about making sure the community has access to that part of the island now," Carleton said "Let's make sure that that part of the island is is finally accessible to the local community." The club's existing pools are too much of a liability they would be filled in and the space re-used for recreational activities like bocce ball or curling in the winter would be offered as a venue for special events such as weddings That would help generate revenue to support the site the Detroit community sailing center and the rowing club have a strong foundation They've been such ardent supporters of the building," Carleton said "I want to make sure that they have an updated home that is serving their needs." Carleton compared his proposed redeveloped boathouse to something you'd see in resort towns whether you want to go to fish or swim at the beach or go to the aquarium this would really just be icing on the cake," Carleton said "People can come spend the day at the aquarium or the conservatory grab a light lunch or stay for dinner afterward." Carleton has been renovating Detroit buildings since 1992 most recently the Grand Army of the Republic Building on Grand River Ave Carleton would modernize the mechanical aspects of the building putting in a new elevator and security system while keeping the aesthetic largely the same "We're going to run new mechanical through but I like to say that if someone from the original Boat Club in 1902 walked through the building they wouldn't think anything was different," Carleton said "We're going to put in all new plumbing and the heating and electrical and the like .. so much of it is in really good condition." The boathouse was built in 1902 but has since fallen into a state of disrepair It was condemned in 2022 and deemed at risk for structural failure The state previously earmarked $2 million for the structure's demolition but there was strong public support for rehabilitating the building Members of the public can attend a special session of the Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Flynn Pavilion where the full redevelopment proposal will be presented If Carleton's plan is approved he'd need to negotiate a lease and realistically wouldn't be able to start the project until the spring After this the project would likely take two to three years to complete The nation’s oldest aquarium is celebrating a major milestone anniversary in Detroit this weekend The Belle Isle Aquarium the Belle Isle Conservancy will partner with the City of Detroit’s Office of Arts Culture and Entrepreneurship to host a Family Day at the aquarium from 11 a.m Festivities include an outdoor aquatic science station “We are so appreciative of the City of Detroit and ACE in lifting up such a beloved cultural institution,” said Belle Isle Conservancy CEO Meagan Elliott “The Belle Isle Conservancy is proud to operate this space free of charge for everyone to enjoy More: Belle Isle aquarium offers free admission every Thursday in August it was the third-largest aquarium in the world with salt water being shipped directly from the ocean Belle Isle Aquarium welcomes thousands of annual visitors with free admission “Detroit has so many unique institutions and attractions that have been viewed as the best in the country Detroit ACE is honored to lift up another one – the Belle Isle Aquarium,” said Rochelle Riley director of Arts and Culture for the city.