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Weigh in on recommendations to improve Belle Isle mobility by July 24

Don’t miss your chance to give feedback on a series of recommendations to make travel to and around Belle Isle Park in Detroit easier and safer. Public comments will be accepted through Monday, July 24.

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Belle Isle Conservancy have been working together on a multimodal mobility study for the last 12 months to help ease travel for all users and modes of transportation at the island park. This comment period is just one part of public feedback efforts.

"We appreciate the more than 100 people who attended the July 8 public open house," said Amanda Treadwell, urban field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "Public feedback is one of the major components of this study, so we want to extend opportunities for input a while longer."

If you missed the in-person public open house last weekend, there are still opportunities to weigh in on proposed solutions, which include: 

  • Converting the main road around the island to two-way and adding traffic circles for easier and safer access.
  • Creating a welcoming bridge and entry experience, including installing protected bike lanes on the MacArthur Bridge and improving access at the toll booths.
  • Creating a promenade down the center of Central Avenue for all pedestrians, including walkers and bikers.
  • Adding parking where it’s needed.
  • Improving signage around the island to help visitors know where to go and how to get there.
  • Offering alternative mobility options, such as a ferry or improved public transportation, to and from the park.

How to provide feedback

To learn about the recommendations, the public is invited to watch a recorded presentation and provide feedback via email at TreadwellA@Michigan.gov or by phone at 313-261-5059. Comments will be accepted through Monday, July 24.

To find a link to the recorded presentation, ways to provide feedback and additional information on the multimodal mobility study, visit the project webpage, which is available at Michigan.gov/BelleIsle.

Questions? Contact Amanda Treadwell at TreadwellA@Michigan.gov or 313-269-7430.


Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.