John Gallgaher of the Detrot Free Press writes up a review of Belle Isle six months after Michigan Department of Natural Resources took control of the grand park.
Gallagher writes:
Since then, the DNR has moved aggressively to quell complaints about the takeover and to keep its promise to improve the island park. It has removed about 200 hazardous trees, reopened most of the restrooms that the City of Detroit had locked for lack of maintenance money, got the classic Scott Fountain operating again 12 hours a day all summer. And, most controversially, Michigan State Police cracked down on speeders and other violators.
He writes that as a result of the state's take over, Belle Isle has been cleaner, less rowdy and from appearances, safer this summer than at any time in years.
The downside is that park attendance seems to be down, the Freep reports.
Ron Olson, chief of parks and recreation for the state DNR, tells the Freep that "theres a lot more to do. This is the beginning, not the end." -- Allan Lengel
