  Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 335 Registered: 05-2004 |
Do you think the reentry of racing on Belle Isle is a good thing or not? | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1777 Registered: 05-2005 |
good thing, just wish they had a better solution for the temporary paddock/garage area than a sea of permanent concrete | ||
Miss_cleo Member Username: Miss_cleo Post Number: 798 Registered: 05-2005 |
Bad thing, why not race around the city instead of messing up the Island? | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 415 Registered: 10-2005 |
VERY bad idea. I hate what they did to the park. With such wide avenues and so much empty land, I cannot figure out why the park had to be ruined for a car race. Unbelievable! | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 432 Registered: 11-2006 |
I really don't understand what they ruined about the park? It is largely the same. Yeah there are temporary concrete barriers and bleachers, but all that will be gone later. So I would say it is a good thing. | ||
Miss_cleo Member Username: Miss_cleo Post Number: 799 Registered: 05-2005 |
I dont think its good for the parks eco system. Extra noise, pollution, people, trash, cement. | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 1612 Registered: 11-2003 |
I'm not sure if I like the race track yet. I know Helio Castroneves has tested the track and has spoken highly of it but it'll be different once they get the full field out there and see how racy the track really is. Ask me again on September 3rd. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2627 Registered: 06-2004 |
6nois - about 10 acres (or more) of concrete has been poured in what used to be grassy areas Is the racework why Scott Fountain was shut off two Sundays ago? | ||
Screamingfit Member Username: Screamingfit Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2006 |
Well, at least we're holding true with our moniker of "The Motor City". Where else would they level a historic park with cement? Well, at least it should go back to normal after the race. They are ripping up the concrete they laid and putting down grass, right???! | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1274 Registered: 07-2004 |
Oh, but haven't you heard. Only like 5 percent of the park is just as Frederick Law Olmsted intended, so it's perfectly alright to pave over the rest. If there's one thing we need to do in the Motor City, it's to watch cars drive real fast in circles. Whee! Who needs history? It's the bunk. | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 134 Registered: 08-2006 |
Some good news: "All net proceeds go to a general improvement and preservation fund. The $100,000 already earmarked for the island will incrementally increase over the course of the race's initial five-year contract." http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/grandprix10607.as px | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1950 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think any major event we can host in Detroit is a bonus. Belle Isle will get some much needed funding from it, and the city will get more national attention. Plus it is one more thing that allows us to retain our automotive heritage. | ||
Lowereast Member Username: Lowereast Post Number: 10 Registered: 08-2007 |
I think its a great idea since its an event that shows off the city in a positive light and will bring improvements to the island. Other cities host races in parks as well such as the Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) and Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne). I am curious how close the lap times will be comparing the old CART cars with IRL. | ||
Peachlaser Member Username: Peachlaser Post Number: 96 Registered: 08-2006 |
I really hope that Belle Isle gets restored because of this event. It sounds like a lot of new concrete but hopefully that gets used for new events in the future that will trigger the island's rebirth. If the Detroit automotive industry can compete against the world's best like Audi, Acura and Porsche, then I think Detroit has a chance to recover. If not, then I hope the casinos can support Detroit. This race has a lot to do with perception around the world and with people who are currently buying foreign cars. Is Detroit still the Motor City? I bet that Belle Isle will look better in a year than it has in decades and the crowds will return to a cleaner and greener park. My rosy predictions which I hope come true. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1275 Registered: 07-2004 |
Minus the ten acres, of course. | ||
Peachlaser Member Username: Peachlaser Post Number: 97 Registered: 08-2006 |
I think the question becomes, "Is it better to have 90 acres of green space that is being maintained and cared for or 100 acres of space that is being neglected." I agree, ideally, 100 acres of maintained green space would probably fit the aspirations of many nature lovers better, but it seems the island has been generally neglected and this is a chance to find a viable use for the land that can generate funds for future growth and restoration. Besides the new paddock area, I believe a lot of the new features are temporary and will be removed. I think the television coverage with the views of Detroit from the island will also help improve people's image of Detroit which is something that is badly needed by the city. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1276 Registered: 07-2004 |
I think the question becomes, "Ain't all that concrete ugly as hail?" | ||
Miss_cleo Member Username: Miss_cleo Post Number: 800 Registered: 05-2005 |
^ yes! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5141 Registered: 08-2004 |
No, the concrete paddock area (10 acres) is permanent. Prior to paving that "non-Olmstead" area, it was poor drainage grassland, unsuitable for picnic'ing. 10 acres is only a small fraction of the 980 acre park. And back when Olmstead designed it, there were only something like 600 acres. The east end (Scott Fountain and basin, and west end Blue Heron Lagoon and Livingston Lighthouse) are not part of Olmstead's designs, and were later built up acreage from river dredgings. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1278 Registered: 07-2004 |
Right, because, Gistok, since FLO didn't design it, that means it's totally expendable. Just a bunch of poorly drained ground, which happened to be excellent for kite-flying. Man, that's totally mendacious booshwah. It caught a great breeze off the water, and I enjoyed running around on the grass, and often brought a blanket there to sit and relax. Forget the Scott Fountain. No historical value there. I love how the paddock takes a bite out of the fucking fountain area. Who designed this shit? It's fucking ugly, dude. I hope they rip up that shit, and publicly pillory the aesthetics of the people who "defended" its installation. I think it's wonderful that the area of Belle Isle where the most wedding photos were taken now has a shitty-ass parking lot next to it. All of you who love it: Your aesthetics suck. All of you who defend it for the "greater good": Your priorities suck. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1973 Registered: 10-2003 |
Someone missed nap time. | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 435 Registered: 11-2006 |
The park really doesn't look that different. And honestly Cleo, you seem to complain the most about this. When is the last time you were to the island? Do you know how the island looks have the race changes? It really doesn't look any different. With the massive size of the park you can't tell. I don't think it has ruined the island, and if it results in better care of what is there I am all for it, and 10 acres is worth it. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1279 Registered: 07-2004 |
Blah, blah, blah. I'll bet the people most excited about this "improvement" never even go to the park anyway. Whatever. Come down to the park. Not for the trees, the greenery, or the serenity of an oasis from Detroit, but come, watch cars go around real real fast, leave some beer cans for the bums, then go home. | ||
Lowereast Member Username: Lowereast Post Number: 11 Registered: 08-2007 |
I am extremely excited about the race and usually go to the island at least a few times a week. | ||
Jz_detroit Member Username: Jz_detroit Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2005 |
^Me too. I was just there over the weekend. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1280 Registered: 07-2004 |
Well, now you won't have to suffer that poorly drained grass anymore. Enjoy the paddock! | ||
Miss_cleo Member Username: Miss_cleo Post Number: 806 Registered: 05-2005 |
*They paved paradise and put up a parking lot* Everybody sing! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5144 Registered: 08-2004 |
Detroitnerd... it's only 10 ACRES of a 980 acre park. I agree that it doesn't look good. Maybe in the winter they'll use it as a skating rink (it's big enough). It got the blessing of the Friends of Belle Isle. Are you a member of that organization? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1281 Registered: 07-2004 |
OK, by now I think it's pretty obvious that I hate the paddock. JohnLodge: Can I have a hug now? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1282 Registered: 07-2004 |
Gistok: The question was do you love it or hate it. I emphatically hate it. What do you want? Me to get down on my fucking knees and say I love it I love it? No way. |
