The Freep’s Keith Matheny writes about the jewel of Detroit, left to tarnish in the past but since its designation as a State Park in 2014, glitters and shines…

Belle Isle has more than 5 million visitors per year, making it the second-most-visited state park in the United States behind only Niagara Falls, New York.

It wasn’t a simple process. Many Detroiters disapproved, adamantly, of the state taking control of the beloved city asset. In fact, the City Council in January 2013, voted to reject the idea. But Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, pushed the lease through.

A unique aspect of Belle Isle as a Michigan state park is that many park features are run by different entities: the Dossin Great Lakes Museum run by the Detroit Historical Society; the Nature Center run by the Detroit Zoo; Hype Athletics coordinating athletic fields and work on the park’s athletic building; the Detroit Yacht Club and Friends of Detroit Rowing; and the U.S. Coast Guard station.

Alt. link: https://archive.is/NXJgF