Cityscape

Dave Bing, Rick Snyder Announce Belle Isle State Park Proposal, 30-Year Lease

September 12, 2012, 11:43 AM

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Governor Rick Snyder announced this morning a 30-year lease plan for Belle Isle that would allow Michigan to operate the island as a state park.

“The city’s current financial condition prevents the city from investing in the much needed restoration of Belle Isle,” said Bing. “This city-state collaboration will return Belle Isle to its original beauty through major improvements and regular maintenance overseen by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.”

The lease must be approved by City Council. Bing says his administration plans to deliver the proposal to Council today.

The plan would require visitors accessing the island by car to purchase a $10/year state parks pass. Pedestrians, bikers can still enter the island for free. So would bus riders if, as Bing and Snyder promised this morning, DDOT reestablishes service to the island.

Bing says the agreement will save the city an estimated $275 million over 30 years. The 36 city employees responsible for Belle Isle maintenance will be redeployed to take care of other city parks.

Snyder says, in addition to funds collected from the car fee, the state will fund Belle Isle’s operation through the DNR’s bonding capacity.

Earlier this week, City Council President Charles Pugh suggested the proposed 30-year lease should include escape clauses to allow the city to re-take control of Belle Isle operations and given interim points. Bing said that idea wouldn’t work because of the bonding obligations necessary to improve the park.

“They took into account the length of time that it would take to get the necessary bonding to do the investments,” said Bing. “So 30 years is the time frame. Everybody wants what they want, but we’ve got to be realistic.”

Snyder offered few details about the state’s plans for the park, but he did lay out a broad vision for how the DNR would manage Belle Isle.

“Some of the shortest term things are to get the recreation facilities up and running again, the shelters, the athletic fields, the rest rooms, the convenience facilities,” said Snyder. “And also to look at what we can do in terms of fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Longer-term, we intend to look at capital improvements—significant capital improvements—but right now that would be premature.”

He also said state and local police will develop an improved public safety plan for the island.

If City Council approves the lease proposal, the city would turn over control of Belle Isle in March, 2013.


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