  Sg9018 Member Username: Sg9018 Post Number: 306 Registered: 10-2006 |
Woman Donates $300,000 To Belle Isle Former Detroiter Catheline Ballbach left 300 thousand dollars from her estate (half of her estate) to Belle Isle.Catheline grew up loving the park and never forgotten the good times she had there. The conservator is waiting on the city for more than a year to sign the paper. Once than the rest of the family could get the estate. The city will use the money for the old casino and Catheline Ballbach will get a dedicated plaque. Here about this story from WDIV Local 4, http://www.clickondetroit.com/ news/18190231/detail.html | ||
Bigb23 Member Username: Bigb23 Post Number: 3059 Registered: 11-2007 |
Well, what can be said about the city government and money? I hope it is well spent, $300,000 is just a blip on a budget nowadays. | ||
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5 Post Number: 863 Registered: 06-2005 |
How about using the 300K to install a booth at the bridge to collect a $4 daily/$20 annual per vehicle entry fee? Offer a discount for Detroit residents and an option to volunteer time in exchange for an annual pass for those who are willing to do so. Is there any reasonable argument as to why this has yet to be done? | ||
French777 Member Username: French777 Post Number: 629 Registered: 10-2006 |
YES Johnnny5!!! I LOVE THE IDEA! hmmm sounds like the Metroparks Fee! | ||
Det313grrl Member Username: Det313grrl Post Number: 467 Registered: 01-2005 |
Sure would be nice to have some of that go towards reopening the aquarium. | ||
Ocean2026 Member Username: Ocean2026 Post Number: 43 Registered: 11-2008 |
As for the aquarium -Yeah right. To put a positive light on this, the entire island is surrounded by an aquarium, just get a wetsuit and jump in. Sorry, the aquarium closed in '67 after hungry unemployed rioters stormed the tanks and ate all the fish. They said they would open again when the local economy got better, the latest I've read is the scheduled re-opening has been tentatively set for Mid 2059 when the last resident of Detroit will have died. At that time the entire area will be a museum, including all the abandoned buildings. "Daddy what kind of people could have possibly lived in a place like this?" "Sweetie Let's just go look at the pretty fish" (I'm just playing - live in South Texas anyway and my backyard and pier really is an aquarium) | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 3121 Registered: 10-2003 |
FYI...the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium are having a raffle fundraiser... http://belleisleaquarium.com/e vents/2008/raffle_cars_2008.ht ml | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 774 Registered: 11-2006 |
I think this is great and rather than collecting tolls for B.I. more should be done to fundraise and gather donations. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 4296 Registered: 02-2007 |
hold a few concerts: temporary toll,to get things going..but not permanent..after all it is the gem of our city...and should be enjoyed by everyone...but fund raisers are a great idea...do they charge for family picnics? A marginal fee for over twenty-five people? | ||
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv Post Number: 496 Registered: 08-2007 |
She might just as well have pissed that money away from the MacArthur Bridge for all the good it's going to do in the hands of the City. She should have donated it to the Friends of Belle Isle or to some group who actually cares about the place. | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 351 Registered: 10-2007 |
Charge $5 per car. Cars with children are free. Cars with seniors, also free. The best spot to set up a booth would have been on the Blvd, under Jefferson, but they filled that up 20 yrs ago. | ||
Bigb23 Member Username: Bigb23 Post Number: 3077 Registered: 11-2007 |
How will we get laid ? At that price ? | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 750 Registered: 05-2006 |
If I recall, a few clowns on council like Babs Collens and Watson said that charging a fee would be a racist thing to do to the residents. Go figure. | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 775 Registered: 11-2006 |
No the fee isn't racist its just dumb. No one gets charged to go to central park, or millennium park, charging for Detroit's is not a good idea. I think the better plan would to be to court more donors like Catheline Ballbach as well as creating fundraising events for the park, though a non profit set up specifically to operate the park such as concerts and even charging admittance for events like the fireworks. So that way the park remains free the rest of the time as it should be. | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 354 Registered: 10-2007 |
"How will we get laid? At that price?" 5 bucks equals 5 less 99 cent bags Flamin Hot Cheetos, Funions, Better Made Hot Chips 2 less 40s. 1 less spliff 4 less Black and Milds (or Swishers) 4 less items from Wendy's value menu 1 less pack of Newports 1 extra hooker (supply your own, but not from HP, that's a dude) | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 6487 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm with 6nois on this one. I'm distressed by the state of the park, but it has more to do with mismanagement than anything else. People shouldn't have to pay to get into their parks, especially their premier park. Freedom of movement is a big thing with me, and I'm against tolls in general. I think the Friends are doing good work, and what they need is simply more exposure so that they can hook a few well-heeled regular donors for the park. And, despite past neglect, there are definitely parts of the park better than they were just a few years ago. A toll is an over-reaction to a smaller problem. It's like trying to smash a roach with a sledgehammer. (Message edited by lmichigan on December 03, 2008) | ||
Norwalk Member Username: Norwalk Post Number: 436 Registered: 11-2006 |
I would like to know how many Friends of Belle Isle are actually Detroiters | ||
Vas Member Username: Vas Post Number: 969 Registered: 01-2004 |
$2 a car no more or people will be restricted anything less isn't worth doing $4 a car is b.s. and would stop a lot of people | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 1688 Registered: 12-2007 |
Move EMF to B.I., make it like a Glastonbury or Coachella and invite some huge acts...DP, Chemical Bros., etc..the space is there, the International City as a backdrop...man, that would be awesome. | ||
Noggin Member Username: Noggin Post Number: 111 Registered: 09-2004 |
Unfortunately the only thing this donation accomplished is that the city will spend $300000 less in the meager Belle Isle budget and use it to pay off the Kwame tax for his misdeeds. | ||
Izzyindetroit Member Username: Izzyindetroit Post Number: 148 Registered: 07-2008 |
"Is there any reasonable argument as to why this has yet to be done?" Because public places should be public and free. | ||
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap Post Number: 1140 Registered: 01-2005 |
"Move EMF to B.I., make it like a Glastonbury or Coachella and invite some huge acts...DP, Chemical Bros., etc..the space is there, the International City as a backdrop...man, that would be awesome." Yuck. Belle Isle doesn't need more trouble, more crowds, more noise, more litter, more attacks on the nature it was built to honor. Belle Isle needs more quiet, more children (fewer cruisers and destroyers), more focus on what Frederick Law Olmstead produced and planned and hoped for. NYC's Central Park has become great again because it has a conservancy that honors Olmstead's vision. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 1396 Registered: 01-2006 |
I dont care how many of the friends of Belle Isle are actually detroiters. Belle Ise is a staple of our region and should be cherished and accessible to everyone in our region. | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 1689 Registered: 12-2007 |
Central Park also hosts some pretty massive Free Concerts SWM... | ||
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5 Post Number: 864 Registered: 06-2005 |
I'd have to argue that public places are never "free". Tax dollars are almost always used to maintain public parks. Unfortunately in Detroit those tax dollars have not been making their way to the island, and as a result the park is very poor condition. Belle Isle needs a reliable funding source that is separated and not dependent on Detroit's general budget. If you place the cost of an annual pass at $20 it would end up costing about 5 cents per day to access the park. Pedestrian, bus and bicycle access could still be free (Same as in Central Park in NY and Millenium Park). So the cost is minimal to those using the park and as an added bonus vehicle traffic is reduced. Also a entry fee would allow the city to transfer some of the costs to non residents. (Message edited by Johnnny5 on December 03, 2008) | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1475 Registered: 11-2003 |
Politically, charging to get on the island does not fly. I've talked to politicians and leaders, and it is a non-starter, so forget about it. As much as I think it's a good idea, it will not happen anytime soon. So time to get practical and think of other solutions. Personally, I'd like to see some appropriate private businesses on there, providing property tax revenue that's specially targeted for the island to help. It won't fix all the problems, but it will help. Also, an endowment should be actively pursued and possibly a conservancy-style organization like Campus Martius. There's a lot more pieces to this complicated wicket; however, if the city sits down and decides to do something about it they could if they're open to different solutions. I like the idea of a concert venue that's properly designed to manage the traffic, but the concerts aren't free and are to support the park. You could do a variety of things from the DSO to Daft Punk. | ||
Jdkeepsmiling Member Username: Jdkeepsmiling Post Number: 339 Registered: 01-2006 |
What they should do is place a manned toll booth on the way in, but not have an actual toll. There would just be a person collection donations on the way in. If you did not want to pay, so be it, but I bet a lot of people would drop in a buck or two. | ||
Alsodave Member Username: Alsodave Post Number: 1270 Registered: 10-2003 |
Perhaps those suggesting a toll(something that won't happen)should donate to FOBI and encourage their friends, colleagues and associates to do the same. (I realize that some people that are for a toll may already donate and/or volunteer with FOBI.) | ||
Kensingtony Member Username: Kensingtony Post Number: 36 Registered: 09-2008 |
I belong to a car club(the Michigan Sports Car Club)that uses the paved paddock area of the Grand Prix for our autocross events.The club is charged a rental fee for usage of the facility.To charge us an additional fee to gain access to the lot that we already pay for is just wrong. | ||
Detroitpetanque Member Username: Detroitpetanque Post Number: 190 Registered: 09-2006 |
How long until the scrappers steal the plaque and sell it for $5? $300,000 into the toilet! | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 1545 Registered: 11-2003 |
Digitalvision wrote, "Personally, I'd like to see some appropriate private businesses on there, providing property tax revenue that's specially targeted for the island..." I realize that funding is needed, but what do we want? A public park or private development? Once you start introducing private development, the intrinsic value of the ENTIRE park as a PUBLIC resource is degraded. | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1477 Registered: 11-2003 |
There would need to be a special zoning section passed (if one didn't already fit) to regulate which kinds of businesses to enhance the park making it revenue positive for the city. Frankly, we don't have the money to keep it up, and nothing's changing any time soon in Detroit's city financial picture; if anything it's getting worse with no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, you can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I'd rather have a "compromised" beautiful public park than a dirty, breaking-down uncompromised one. Under that assumption, places like the Detroit Wheelhouse shouldn't exist where they are because it's a public space, and yet, that business adds a lot of value to the riverwalk experience. | ||
Ocean2026 Member Username: Ocean2026 Post Number: 48 Registered: 11-2008 |
There is a similar thread on city-data.com where they also don't appreciate my humor... The site is pretty good though http://www.city-data.com/forum /detroit/503343-belle-isle-inf ormation-please.html | ||
Eastsideal Member Username: Eastsideal Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2007 |
She should have given her money to the Friends instead of the city. They are certainly in my will. What's really needed for Belle Isle though is the sort of public/private/non-profit partnership that's been so useful in upgrading and maintaining Central Park and has been the model for other parks in NYC and elsewhere in the U.S. The Central Park Conservancy - an organization similar to the Friends of Belle Isle that was founded after them - now manages the park under a contract from the City of New York. Unfortunately, Detroit still suffers from the same problem it has suffered from for decades. A corporate sector and corporate leadership that has no relationship to, or love for, the actual people of the city, and sees the park as a place where "no one goes anymore" (translation: no one they know). And mostly views it, if they think about it at all, as a sort of blank slate that needs to be repurposed to be useful for big suburban-oriented events like the Grand Prix. Then there is, of course, the ugly local history that has bred a deep distrust of these same corporations in the city's administration and amongst its leadership, as well as a distrust of anyone from outside the city itself. They will not want to lose control of the park, no matter how ill-equipped they are to maintain it, to people they see as "outsiders." Really though the time has come for all sides to reach out and find some way to save, maintain, and preserve one of the area's real jewels. As usual, the people are the real victims of our area's mistrust and perverse inability to get along across racial, class, and administrative boundaries. But perhaps we could agree to pour some money into the Friends and let them take over some operations and raise funds for the island, in the style of the Central Park Conservancy. I would hope that we could all agree that they have the best interests of the park itself as a first priority (and I know lots of city residents who are members, but the very fact that the residency status of their membership is a concern, as stated above, shows just how reflexively dysfunctional this area is). But a toll booth to charge people for entering a public park, and essentially stopping many of them from going there, in a city with as poor a population as Detroit's would really be an obscenity. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3835 Registered: 07-2004 |
CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: It's a shame what's happened to Belle Isle. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: I know! My parents used to drive me down there every once in a while when I was a kid. I remember it being really cool! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: I know! My family would take me down there every few years! It was so nice! I wish we went more often, but it's so far from Commerce Township. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Yeah, it's far from Independence too. I'd go there more often, really I would, but now it's full of all these people who make me feel unsafe. Last year, my wife wanted us to take the kids to the conservatory, but I thought of all those people in cars just hanging out and listening to that vulgar music and I just couldn't deal. We didn't go. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: I know! Imagine how many people WOULD go if only it weren't full of all those obnoxious people! CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Yeah, they're really ruining it for the rest of us. We'd probably go more than once every year if they weren't there. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: But what can you do? CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Well, we COULD start a campaign to charge an entrance fee. That would probably get rid of some of the riff-raff. I bet we'd have people coming in from Royal Oak, Birmingham and Livonia if only we could get rid of some of those losers! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Hey, that's not a bad idea! I'm sure we could have annual passes for people so we could get rid of those low-class types and fill it up with ... um ... families. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: And then we could do all sorts of special events! We could have Hannah Montana events there. We could have concerts from Hall & Oates and Hootie and the Blowfish! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Oh, man. That would be great. That would make the island safe for the people who aren't using it right now! CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: But I bet some of those corrupt Detroit politicians would raise a stink, right? They'd probably try to say that it's a suburban effort to keep Detroit residents from using their own park! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Whatever. We'll just put on a jazz show once a year and that ought to keep them happy. Black people still like jazz, don't they? CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: I like jazz. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: So it's win-win! Let's get started. THE ABOVE IS INTENDED AS  SATIRE AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS ANY SLUR ON HANNAH MONTANA, HOOTIE, THE BLOWFISH, DARYL HALL, JOHN OATES, ME, DETROIT, POLITICIANS, CLUELESS WHITE GUYS OR JAZZ MUSIC. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3944 Registered: 01-2005 |
Blowfish? I thought the aquarium was closed? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3838 Registered: 07-2004 |
http://faultgame.com/images/ri mshot.wav | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1479 Registered: 11-2003 |
My interpretation of DN's post, sans codespeak: ---- CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: It's a shame black people started using Belle Isle. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: I know! My parents used to drive me down there every once in a while when I was a kid. I remember it being really cool! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: I know! My family would take me down there every few years! It was so nice! I wish we went more often, but it's so far from Commerce Township, where I moved, because I don't like being around people who don't look like me. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Yeah, it's far from Independence too. I'd go there more often, really I would, but now it's full of all these black people who make me feel unsafe. Last year, my wife wanted us to take the kids to the conservatory, but I thought of all those black people in cars just hanging out and listening to that vulgar african music and I just couldn't deal. We didn't go. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: I know! Imagine how many people WOULD go if only it weren't full of all those black people! CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Yeah, they're really ruining it for the rest of us. We'd probably go more than once every year if black people weren't there. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: But what can you do? CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: Well, we COULD start a campaign to charge an entrance fee. That would probably get rid of the poor black people. I bet we'd have people coming in from Royal Oak, Birmingham and Livonia if only we could get rid of some of those n******! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Hey, that's not a bad idea! I'm sure we could have annual passes for people so we could get rid of those black people and fill it up with white folks who look and talk like me. CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: And then we could do all sorts of special events! We could have Hannah Montana events there. We could have concerts from Hall & Oates and Hootie and the Blowfish! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Oh, man. That would be great. That would make the island safe for white people! CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: But I bet some of those corrupt Detroit politicians would raise a stink, right? They'd probably try to say that it's a suburban effort to keep Detroit residents from using their own park! CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: Whatever. We'll just put on a jazz show once a year and that ought to keep them happy. Black people still like jazz, don't they? CLUELESS GUY NO. 2: I like jazz. CLUELESS GUY NO. 1: So it's win-win! Let's get started. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3839 Registered: 07-2004 |
Good job, DV. "Excuse me, miss. I speak white." |
