The Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Belle Isle Conservancy have finalized recommendations to improve travel to and around Belle Isle Park in Detroit, with the goals of easing traffic congestion, enhancing accessibility and increasing public safety.

Informed by a 2.5-year comprehensive study, the Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan outlines a 10-year implementation strategy to help visitors move more freely and easily throughout the park, including its roads, trails, sidewalks and parking areas.

Key recommendations include:

• Restriping the MacArthur Bridge with two lanes for cars in each direction and a dedicated two-way bike lane, providing a safe and separated path for cyclists and pedestrians to access the Detroit International RiverWalk.
• Restriping the perimeter loop road to include one-way vehicular traffic and two-way bike lanes.
• Converting Central Avenue, spanning 1.25 miles from the James Scott Memorial Fountain to the woods, creating a people-focused promenade for walkers, bikers, runners and others.
• Installing wayfinding and directional signage to help visitors better understand how to move around the island.
• Partnering with the Detroit Department of Transportation to expand bus routes and stops around the island; MOGO – a Detroit-based nonprofit bikeshare organization – to expand on-site bike sharing; and others to determine the feasibility of a ferry stop at Belle Isle.
• Completing construction of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail, which also serves as the southernmost 6 miles of Michigan's Iron Belle Trail, for biking, walking and rolling around the island.

While many of the recommended improvements will necessitate additional funding and the development of more detailed designs, many changes are already underway. For example, the last phase of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail, a two-way cycle track for bicyclists, and interim restriping of Central Avenue to better define driving lanes, two-way bike lanes, on-street parking and pedestrian crosswalks will be completed in 2025. Additionally, the design and installation of new wayfinding signs are taking shape, with some of the items to be installed this year. Building upon the multimodal mobility plan, the DNR Parks and Recreation Division will soon develop a strategic plan for Belle Isle Park that will outline additional priorities that align with community needs. "The development of a strategic plan for Belle Isle will help us look at all the work that needs to be done in a holistic manner and develop a list of priorities that reflect the community’s needs and aspirations," said Amanda Treadwell, urban field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "Throughout the multimodal mobility study, many people shared their ideas for improving the park. We want to build on what we’ve already learned, and we're excited to continue this collaboration with our visitors and stakeholders." Find the Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan on the project webpage, which is available at Michigan.gov/BelleIsle. For more information about the mobility plan or upcoming strategic plan, contact Amanda Treadwell at TreadwellA@Michigan.gov or 313-269-7430. Contact: Amanda Treadwell, 313-269-7430