NEWSBelle Isle through the yearsDetroit purchased Belle Isle in 1879, making it the nation's largest city-owned park. Planned by the designer of New York's Central Park, it remains one of Detroit's most alluring assets. Its deteriorating condition and city's fiscal morass prompted state and city leaders to propose a lease of the island (shown in 1901) to the state, which can better pay for its upkeep.The Detroit NewsSkaters enjoy the ice in 1915. By 1889, visitors could reach the park via its first wooden bridge. Also that year, the skating pavilion chateau (rear) was built on Lake Tacoma. It remained until 1950.The Detroit NewsA woman watches a sailing ship pass Belle Isle circa 1910. It was a period of great growth for the island park. By 1930, the Casino, Whitcomb Conservatory and Livingstone Lighthouse were added.The Detroit NewsCanoeing on the canals of Belle Isle in 1920. The loop canal was a man-made addition.The Detroit NewsCanoers traverse the waters alongside the Belle Isle Casino in 1920. The casino was designed by famed architect Albert Kahn.The Detroit NewsWomen on the beach at Belle Isle, 1920s.The Detroit NewsBathing suit clad ladies drag a reluctant man to the water for a little swim. Undated, probably 1920s.The Detroit NewsVisitors to Belle Isle appear in front of the casino dressed in their Sunday best.The Detroit NewsThe island includes a half-mile swimming beach, the only beach in the city of Detroit. The first bathhouse was constructed near the ferry dock at the end of the island and replaced in 1909 upriver with one of the largest facilities in the nation, boasting a capacity of 20,000 visitors a day.The Detroit NewsHoards of Detroiters would drive in cars loaded with their friends, or catch the Jefferson Beach bus to travel to the water front park to enjoy the spectacular views of frozen fountains, or feed the deer, or go for a sleigh ride or a brisk skate on the icy lagoons.The Detroit NewsThe grounds of the Conservatory in full bloom on Belle Isle in 1953The Detroit NewsThe Belle Isle Conservatory in 1973.The Detroit NewsIrvin Salter fishes in the Detroit River near Belle Isle Bridge in 1977.The Detroit NewsA zookeeper feeds the seals at the Belle Isle Zoo 1920. The zoo housed polar bears, elephants and several other animals by early in the 20th century.The Detroit NewsElectric Park, Detroit's first mammoth amusement enterprise, opened May 26, 1906, near the Belle Isle Bridge. It's shown here in 1923.The Detroit NewsOwned by the Arthur Gaulker family, Electric Park, before it closed in 1928, went through many name changes and lengthy court battles over property rights. Some oldtimers remember the park's nicknames: "Pike's Peak, Lunar Park, Riverside or Granada." Many of these names came from concessions located along the riverfront grounds.The Detroit NewsQueen of the ballrooms was the Palais de Danse, built over the water by Charles Rosenzweig in 1912. Memories of its dance floor still bring nostalgic twinges to those who flocked to "The Palais." Famous bands like Sousa's and Creatore's came to play there.The Detroit NewsIn 1927, after long and bitter legal battles, Electric Park's amusement centers were condemned by the city as eyesores. They were razed in 1928 to make way for a public park, considered to be a more suitable approach to Belle Isle. The area was officially renamed "Gabriel Richard Park" in 1936.The Detroit NewsThe Belle Isle police department offices in 1929.The Detroit NewsDetroit News photographer William Kuenzel took this aerial view of the Canal and Band Stand area of Belle Isle on May 20, 1931, from The Detroit News autogiro aircraft.The Detroit NewsYoung people relax on the canal outside the canoe and skating pavilion on Belle Isle in 1934.The Detroit NewsVisitors tour Belle Isle in a shiny Packard in 1934.The Detroit NewsSunrise service at Belle Isle in 1935.Detroit News Photo ArchiveThe policemen of Belle Isle in 1940.The Detroit NewsFormer Detroit Tigers shortstop William George "Billy" Rogell teaches students to slide at his baseball school on Belle Isle in 1942. He played for the Tigers from 1930-39; the 1935 team won the club's first World Series.The Detroit NewsRogell teaches students how to hold a bat at his baseball school on Belle Isle in 1942. A lifetime .262 hitter, Rogell hit .292 in the '35 Series against the Cubs.The Detroit NewsIce skating on Belle Isle in 1942.The Detroit NewsFlorence Pianelle and Joseph Candela snapped at Belle Isle enjoying the spring-like weather in the summer of 1946.The Detroit NewsBob Pearce, one of the all-time rowing greats and his son, Jack, 11, put on a singles race as a demonstration of what can be done in teaching young boys to row at Belle Isle in 1948.The Detroit NewsJames Cashen keeps cool at Belle Isle Beach in 1958 as his son Peter acts as his outboard motor.The Detroit NewsEleanor Cottern, Margaret Campione and Carmelita Cotter keep cool in the Scott Fountain on Belle Isle in 1953.The Detroit NewsBelle Isle signage in 1955.The Detroit NewsDavid and Walter Transki Jr. sleeping at Belle Isle Park in June 1957 after their parents decided it was too hot to sleep at home.The Detroit NewsA monkey and an organ grinder at Belle Isle in 1959.The Detroit NewsA mother and daughter feed the deer at the Belle Isle Zoo in 1960.The Detroit NewsA zookeeper feeds the seals at the Belle Isle Zoo in 1960.The Detroit NewsA family arrives at Belle Isle for the Freedom Festival in 1960.The Detroit NewsThe Coast Guard holds training exercises off Belle Isle in 1963.The Detroit NewsThe Belle Isle Coast Guard Station in 1964.The Detroit NewsThe Belle Isle Conservatory in 1973.The Detroit NewsLillies in the Belle Isle Conservatory in 1973Detroit News Photo ArchiveJudy Valade of Dearborn splashes in the fountain on Belle Isle in 1973.The Detroit NewsChildren enjoy the Belle Isle swimming beach in the summer of 1973.The Detroit NewsA sailboat makes it's way past Belle Isle in 1975.The Detroit NewsVisitors play hockey on the ice at Belle Isle in 1976.The Detroit NewsMichelle Mews carries her friend, Monique Fleming, to shore while swimming off the beach at Belle Isle in 1977,The Detroit NewsWyandotte Boat Club rowers glide under the Belle Isle bridge in 1979.The Detroit NewsChildren flock to the Belle Isle Zoo in 1980.The Detroit NewsScenes from the Belle Isle Zoo in 1980.Detroit News Photo ArchiveThe Belle Isle Bridge in 1981.The Detroit NewsA couple kisses along the Belle isle waterfront in 1982.The Detroit NewsA visitor tries to catch dinner on Belle Isle in 1982.The Detroit NewsA family tries out the canoes on Belle Isle in 1983.The Detroit NewsScenes from the Belle Isle Zoo in 1984.Detroit News Photo ArchiveA family picnics along the Belle Isle shore in 1985.The Detroit NewsA child fishes at Belle Isle in 1985.The Detroit NewsA visitor walks on foggy Belle Isle in 1986.The Detroit NewsA father and son check out the ice on the Belle Isle shore in 1991.The Detroit NewsPeople gather for a picnic at Belle Isle Park in 1991.Detroit News Photo ArchiveWorkers clean an animal enclosure at the Belle Isle Zoo in 1992.The Detroit NewsMark Babrowski of Detroit skates alone on the reflecting pond at the foot of Scott foundation on Belle Isle as the sun sets on the city in background.The Detroit News