Belle Isle Conservancy: No Hotel Planned For Island Park, Camping A Possibility
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Leaders of a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and improving Belle Isle say a hotel isn't expected as part of efforts to develop a strategic plan for the island park.
Belle Isle Conservancy President Michele Hodges told the Detroit Free Press that any ideas about hotels, lodges or widespread camping aren't the kinds of concepts that will ultimately come to fruition. Limited overnight camping on the 982-acre isle, however, is a possibility.
"The community needs to know it's in good hands and we're going to be a good steward of the park," Hodges said. "It is a park and it will always be a park. The conservancy stands tall in protecting this very public place."
Hodges' latest comments came after she told the newspaper for a story published Sunday that the conservancy, in partnership with the state Department of Natural Resources, had given a consultant carte blanche to imagine new ideas for Belle Isle.
Ideas are being looked at this year.
Belle Isle became a state park last year as part of a cost-cutting effort for Detroit. Under the terms of a 30-year lease, the state runs the park while Detroit retains ownership of the island.
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