Things to Do Thursdays: Detroit Belle Isle Park--Largest in America

OK Detroiters, when is the last time you've been to Belle Isle?

 

 

Belle Isle is a 982 acre (3.9 km²; 2.42 sq mi) island park in the Detroit River managed by the Detroit Recreation Department. It is connected to the rest of the city by the MacArthur Bridge. It is the largest island park in the United States.
It is home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904), the Detroit Yacht Club, the Detroit Boat Club, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard post, and a municipal golf course. The city maintains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach.

Belle Isle was founded as the largest city-owned park in America in 1845; it was landscaped in the late 19th century by Frederick Law Olmstead, the landscaper of Central Park in Manhattan. (Belle Isle is larger than Central Park!) The Lighthouse on Belle Isle was designed by Albert Kahn.

What can you do at Belle Isle?

The Nature Zoo

The Athletic Complex

Picnics

Fishing

Walking/Running/Biking

Golf

Check out Belle Isle this weekend!  Discover or re-discover the joys of nature right in the City of Detroit!