Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 587 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2007 - 11:43 pm: | |
The time has come for Detroit to turn over management of Belle Isle to Huron Clinton Metro Authority. I know it's been discussed before, but now is the time to quite f#@king around and ACT NOW! Under the HCMA, Belle Isle can be restored to it's former glory. What is holding this plan back, you ask, well... the clown council for starters...(i.e. watson, collins, the usual suspects) Last I heard, Mayor Kilpatrick was open to this proposal, wtf is stopping it? |
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite
Post Number: 70 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2007 - 11:47 pm: | |
Detroitej72, Does that mean it would be a Metro Park? |
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 594 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:30 am: | |
No, only managed and run by HCMA. Detroit would still own and be paid a yearly sum. Kid, have you been to Metro beach or Stoney Creek recently? They are beautiful parks run by HCMA. This is how Belle Isle should look like. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5725 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:31 am: | |
Out of curiosity, why do you propose, specifically, Huron Clinton Metro Authority to run it? Is it just because you think Stoney Creek looks nice? |
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite
Post Number: 72 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:33 am: | |
I think thats a great idea. I went to Kensington twice last summer and it was very well maintained. Why not let the pros handle Belle Isle? |
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 596 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:42 am: | |
My point exactly Kid_dynamite. |
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 597 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 12:47 am: | |
Lmichigan, If you know of some other entity that could run if efficiently, by all means tell me. |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 870 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 7:18 am: | |
This proposal again? It's not that I have anything against the idea....I don't, and I think it would be good for the park.....but I believe the first attempt at making Belle Isle a Metropark was in '72, wasn't it? |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 1217 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 9:24 am: | |
Even more so, I think there are many non-profit groups that could maintain it better than the City of Detroit. Heck, a new one could even be formed for the park, similar to what Eastern Market is doing. |
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 2669 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 9:44 am: | |
Let's see the HCMA doesn't want it, it's already having money issue of it's own. The city doesn't want to give up control. How are you going to make it work when neither side wants to do it. Even if you forced it to happen it is a recipe for disaster. |
Rjk Member Username: Rjk
Post Number: 758 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 9:50 am: | |
http://www.centralparknyc.org/ aboutcpc |
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 1052 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 11:56 am: | |
I'd rather see a conservancy formed that is dedicated to Belle Isle rather than HCMA take it. That way it could still be governed as a city park... |
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 381 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 2:16 pm: | |
I'm open to both ideas, but if the city does let HCMA run Belle Isle, I would also let them run every park in the city as well. And offer to bring their offices into the Coleman Young Building. Not to monitor, but to centralize. <313> |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1715 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 3:36 pm: | |
fyi, HCMA has something to do with the nature zoo at belle isle already....or at least they're getting free advertising on the nature zoo's signage |
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott
Post Number: 501 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 4:28 pm: | |
Ndavies is right: HCMA doesn't want to take it over; the City doesn't want to give it up. Good idea or not, it'll never happen. |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1497 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 4:29 pm: | |
Belle Isle Nature Zoo is run by Detroit Zoo. Although I would not be surprised if turning the zoo over to HCMA would be proposed to help the zoo tax pass. But HCMA is having money problems as well. They are currently deferring a lot of maintenance to offset loss of revenue. (Message edited by bob on June 29, 2007) |
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000
Post Number: 240 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 4:30 pm: | |
Note that there already is a Friends of Belle Isle, http://www.fobi.org/ |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5729 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 7:47 pm: | |
But as a voluntary organization, they can only do so much. Belle Isle, even in its declined state, is still one of the large, urban monumental parks in the country, and it needs an organization to meet those needs, if even quasi-public if not a private entity. |
Kimistree Member Username: Kimistree
Post Number: 79 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 8:07 pm: | |
There are programs at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo that are run by HCMA. They are free. I take my kids there every month. |
Hudkina Member Username: Hudkina
Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 7:02 pm: | |
I think if Belle Isle were turned over to the HCMA they should charge an entrance fee for cars just like they do to all the other parks. (Pedestrians and bicyclists would get in free) It could help stem some of the illegal stuff that happens there. I'm not sure how many people visit there every year, but I wouldn't doubt that it could easily be the most profitable park in the system, especially with all of the major events that draw people there. If the city of Detroit were to get a percentage of the profits from the entrance fee, maybe they would be more open to turning over control. |