And the ugly slabs of concrete used as a stopgap measure against the eroding shoreline. Belle Isle has been a maddening mix of nature and blight for so long that lots of people are fed up. With its spectacular setting, significant architecture, wide range of sculpture and eventful history, Belle Isle's 982 acres make up some of the most compelling real estate in the Midwest. The solutions are complex and filled with political land mines, especially this year, when the mayor and City Council face voters in the fall. Above all, fixing Belle Isle will be expensive.
Many residents remain skeptical.
Belle Isle is a hot button. They are going to say anything to get themselves re-elected. A volunteer clean-up of Belle Isle on May 5. The effort, dubbed HUG, or Help Uncover the Gem, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is sponsored by Comerica Bank. A conference this summer hosted by the Friends of Belle Isle to explore new possibilities for the management of the island.