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Ross Ellis
Dr. Hudson
11 November 2015
Detroits Gem
Belle Isle is one of Detroits most renowned icons that the city possesses. The 985-acre
strip of land is located in the Detroit River south and east of downtown Detroit. It was purchased
by the City of Detroit on September 23, 1879 and has been an urban park ever since. The island
offers a spectacular view of the cityscape of Detroit as well as a lush environment where people
can relax and enjoy the outdoors. Because of its economic importance to Detroit residents, Belle
Isle is and always will be Detroits gem, the most valuable asset that it has.
When the island in the Detroit River was purchased in the mid-19th century, there were
several plans that were proposed to city officials about what the islands purpose was. Many
other urban parks were designed to renew urban residential neighborhoods by implementing new
housing for migrants, such as New Yorks Battery Park1, and Bostons Washington Park2.
However, Belle Isle had different plans where it is a place for urban renewal but serving as a
place for recreation, not housing. Michael Rodriguez in his book, Detroits Belle Isle Island Park
Gem, relates how Detroit Mayor George C. Langdon purchased Belle Isle only as a standout
effort because the mayor wanted the island to be the main source for the citys water intake, not
just a park.3 Rodriguez further states in his writing that one of the main reasons why the people
1 Shkuda, Aaron. "Housing The Front Office To The World: Urban Planning For The Service

Economy In Battery Park City, New York." Journal Of Planning History.

2 Spiers, John H. "Planning With People": Urban Renewal In Boston's Washington Park, 1950-

1970." Journal Of Planning History.

3 Rodriguez, Michael and Thomas Featherstone. Detroits Belle Isle Island Park Gem. 21

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of Detroit wanted Belle Isle for a park was that the city had already sold nearly all of its
waterfront land for industrial and private use4. Belle Isle is a prime example of how the people of
Detroit wanted democratic social space for themselves. They wanted a place to step back from
the industrialized, machine driven world and their lives that it controlled.
Detroit was a growing city in the mid-1800s. Its population was rapidly increasing just as fast as
was the economy. Belle Isle is a perfect example of urban renewal and development within the
city of Detroit. New trails were blazed across Belle Isle for future tourists to explore, new canals
were dug alongside those trails for better drainage as well as to be ridden by rental canoes,
unemployed men were going back to work digging the several lakes on the island5, and many
attractions and buildings were incorporated into the plan of the park, such as the aquarium,
conservatory, memorial fountain, and many others. Belle Isle hosted events such as sailing races,
foot races, pageants, concerts, canoeing, ice-skating, and a lot of others6. All of these were
reasons why Belle Isle became a legend among the generations of those who attended Detroits
playground.
Unfortunately, not all good times last in the world, and Belle Isle is a good example of that. Even
though it served as a form of urban renewal through the development of the land as a public
park, Belle Isle of today is a place that drives forward by remembering the past and
implementing items that made the park such an icon of Detroit. Much like the rest of the city of
Detroit, Belle Isle is place that is forgotten. The people of Detroit dont look back to the past
4 Rodriguez, Michael and Thomas Featherstone. Detroits Belle Isle Island Park Gem. 79
5 Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Belle Isle

Master Plan. 2015. PDF File. 9

6 Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Belle Isle

Master Plan. 2015. PDF File. 10

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much as they used to in times before; they focus on their future. Today, the face of Belle Isle
doesnt show much in regard of urban renewal. The park has several forgotten attractions such as
the zoo, canals, and boat club. There is a spark of hope, however, in the residents of Detroit who
want the island park to be brought back to the former times that reigned upon that playground for
several years. The State of Michigan is currently leasing Belle Isle from the City of Detroit as a
state park because the city filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and couldnt afford to operate the park. It
is the state that desires to transform the Belle Isle of today back to the Belle Isle of the booming
times.
Belle Isle holds a special place in many of Detroits citizens hearts as well as those who
have had the opportunity to visit the island when it was operating at its full potential. The island
serves as a place for urban renewal through the development of its park attractions, including the
bridge leading visitors to the island7. Belle Isle was a place of balance to the heavily
industrialized world, especially when the assembly line factories were incorporated. It was a
place to step away from the dehumanization of industry and enjoy the out of doors. It isolated
both physically and socially and served as the perfect place to relax and get away for a moment.
That is why Belle Isle is the gem of Detroit.

7 Macauley, Alvan. "BELLE ISLE GIVES CITY OPPORTUNITY." Detroit Free Press (1858-

1922): 4. Jul 04 1915.

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Works Cited
Belle Isle Group Analysis

Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Belle Isle
Master Plan. 2015. PDF File

Macauley, Alvan. "BELLE ISLE GIVES CITY OPPORTUNITY." Detroit Free Press (18581922): 4. Jul 04 1915. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.

Rodriguez, Michael and Thomas Featherstone. Detroits Belle Isle Island Park Gem Arcadia
Publishing (Charleston, SC: 2003)

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Shkuda, Aaron. "Housing The Front Office To The World: Urban Planning For The Service
Economy In Battery Park City, New York." Journal Of Planning History 13.3 (2014): 234-246.
America: History & Life. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Spiers, John H. "Planning With People": Urban Renewal In Boston's Washington Park, 19501970." Journal Of Planning History 8.3 (2009): 221-247. America: History & Life. Web. 11 Nov.
2015.

"THE PURCHASE OF BELLE ISLE." Detroit Free Press (1858-1922): 4. May 18 1879.
ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.