LaCynthia Murray
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Cicero

If Detroit is a city of hidden jewels, it may be a bit of a stretch to include Belle Isle on that list, given that its land spans more than 980 acres.

However, despite having the distinction of being America’s largest city-owned island park and attracting millions of visitors each year, it could still be said that Belle Isle is underappreciated and taken for granted throughout our city and region.

While the promise of new developments and projects often dominate the headlines, Belle Isle (nearly 130 years after the City of Detroit’s purchase) remains the showpiece of Detroit’s park system, a revered downtown landmark, and most important, a destination where all are welcome, as the words of the following three stories reflect.

“Oh what great memories of Belle Isle I have. My parents took us to Belle Isle every weekend. Being the youngest of six children, I still remember my siblings pushing me on the swings until I would scream at the top of my lungs, then finally my mother would rescue me -- only for it to happen all over again in a few minutes.

As we got older, we still went to Belle Isle. My aunt, Ida Wright, would take me, my siblings, cousins, neighbors, everybody to Belle Isle to go swimming. Her car would be piled high, we wore no seat belts back then and we would ‘lap it up’ — sit on each other’s lap — to make more room. While on the beach at Belle Isle I remember playing in the water and in the sand. When we got home to take a bath there would be sand everywhere.

My son Travis will have those fond memories of Belle Isle because his grandparents, Willie James and Pearl Murray, still take him and his cousins to Belle Isle to go down the giant slide, feed the birds, play on the swings and take pictures at the fountain.

Belle Isle was and still is the place to go for everyone. It is a special place to me and it will forever be a “jewel” in my heart.”
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LaCynthia Murray, Comerica Bank Corporate Compliance & Public Affairs, and Belle Isle Women’s Committee member

“I am not a native Detroiter and had no idea what Belle Isle was until I set foot on it a number of years back. It was impressive to me that right here near downtown we have picnic grounds, a golf course, driving range, botanic gardens, a zoo, ball fields, and tons of space to run, ride, bike and walk all right on the water. Since then, I’ve ran in several of the New Year’s Eve runs and visited the driving range and golf course, From all those years back, our volunteer clean-up and refurbishment team from Comerica can see tangible improvements, as we come back each year. A little bit goes a long way.

“Have you ever been house hunting? Sometimes you have to see beyond the clutter to realize that a house has the potential — with some TLC — to be just perfect. Belle Isle was that house for me. It is an area that should be cherished and looked after.”
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Lisa Sasaki, Comerica Bank International Trade Finance and H.U.G. Belle Isle volunteer “The reason I got involved and became a member of the Belle Isle Women’s Committee to “Polish the Jewel” is because of my childhood memories. We used to go to Belle Isle for the beach and have family picnics. We would come early and stay until dark so we could see the water fountain change so many beautiful colors. We used to go fishing, canoeing, visit the zoo and aquarium. They used to rent bikes on the island, so we did not have to bring our bikes. And I loved going through the tunnel to get to the island. When I tell people now that there used to be a tunnel coming from the Boulevard, they look at me in disbelief. I also loved horseback riding. There were so many things to do on the island and no one was a stranger. During picnics, people used to share their food; if someone walked over wanting a barbecue rib or two, it was automatic to give it to them, without a thought. When I graduated from high school back in 1972, Belle Isle was the place to go for swing-out.

It is wonderful today to see how this wonderful gem is starting to come back. We must encourage the young and some of the old to appreciate what we have on the island and take care of it. It is a “true jewel” that should be appreciated and loved. If only they could see what it was like “back in the day;” they would marvel and understand why the “baby boomers” and those older would frown as they drive through the strip and see them not showing respect for this beautiful jewel that we have, a jewel that is free and open to us, someplace you can go and do not need money to enjoy the sun in the day and the moon at night, as you watche children play and the boats float by.”
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Deborah Hardison Hill, Comerica Bank Retail
Product Management and Belle Isle Women’s
Committee member