Photos and Text by Michael Lucido
With the Detroit Grand Prix less than two weeks away -- it runs May 31 to June 2 -- parts of Belle Isle look rather soggy. In fact, some parts are downright flooded.
Rising water levels in Lake Saint Clair and the Detroit River are having a profound impact at Belle Isle and beyond at waterfront properties in Metro Detroit.
Belle Isle Unit Supervisor Jacob Brown of the state Department of Natural Resources says the flooding is a recurring problem this time of year and there's no reason to worry about its impact on the race or other events because they're above river level.
During our conversation, I mentioned the flooding and work on a bridge at the Blue Heron Lagoon area of Belle Isle and Lake Okonoka, and asked when the area would reopen to visitors.
Brown said thanks to a recent $5-million grant from MDOT to a group called Friends of the Detroit River, the flooding will be adressed and the area should reopen around October.
We surveyed the island the other day and took these photos.