Belle Isle Park Unveils Plans for New Central Plaza To Link Major Attractions

A bold plan to transform a parking lot near Belle Isle Aquarium into "The Commons" took center stage Monday night. This new public square will weave together the park's main sites with walking paths across the 982-acre island.

"The goal of The Commons is to create a central connection point between attractions," said Meagan Elliott, president and CEO of the Belle Isle Conservancy, per The Detroit News. "Think about it not as a car-heavy space but as a space where people can kind of take over."

Walking paths will stretch from the aquarium to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. The network extends to Kids' Row, the giant slide, beach spots, Flynn Pavilion, and Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Trees will line the eastern trail, while an expanded pond will sparkle near the conservatory.

Plans call for a lit vendor walkway, a Canal Boardwalk, and the White House Café in the old caretaker's building. Cars will park in outer zones, making way for the central plaza's foot traffic.

Last year, 5.4 million people visited the state park. Most stopped at the aquarium and conservatory, which drew 61% of all visitors, based on Michigan Department of Natural Resources data.

"Guests drive to the island, they go to the spot they intend to go, get out of their car and go to that place, get back in their car and leave the island," Elliott said according to The Detroit News. "We want to create some opportunities to make the space more usable and accessible for everyone."

Three groups backed the project's design and community input phases: the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Community Foundation, and Hudson-Weber Foundation. This work builds on fresh updates, like last week's opening of a 5.8-mile bike path - part of the Iron Belle Trail.

A fundraising preview session was held on Tuesday. Through December 2025, people can share thoughts at meetings or online with park officials.

More changes might come to Belle Isle. Officials want to stretch the beach, fix the bathhouse, bring back the Boathouse, and add canal access points. The final blueprint comes out in early 2026.