BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY

BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY: THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY OPENED IN 1904 AND REMAINS ONE OF DETROIT'S CULTURAL JEWELS. THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM DELIGHTED VISITORS FOR OVER A CENTURY BEFORE THE CITY CLOSED IT IN 2005 DUE TO BUDGET REDUCTIONS. IN 2012, THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY NEGOTIATED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPENING THE AQUARIUM. THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN NOW MANAGING THE PARK INSTEAD OF THE CITY. SINCE THE CONSERVANCY'S MANAGEMENT BEGAN IN 2012 OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN INVESTED INTO THE FACILITY TO ENSURE IT'S SAFETY AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY. HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS SUCH AS THE RESTORATION OF THE FAMED CEILING TILES, REPAIRING THE COPPER ROOF OF THE THE BUILDING, REPAIRING AND RESTORING PLASTER ELEMENTS IN THE BUILDING, REOPENING THE ORIGINAL SKYLIGHTS IN THE BUILDING, AND FABRICATING THE ORIGINAL LIGHTING IN THE BUILDING HAVE ALL HELPED KEEP IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING ALIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE AQUARIUM EXHIBITS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED WITH NEEDED REPAIRS SUCH AS GLASS, MODERN FILTRATION AND WATER SYSTEMS, MODERN PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, AND CONCRETE REPAIR THROUGHOUT. MANY OF THE BUILDINGS MECHANICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO INCREASING THE BUILDINGS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAVE OR REUSE WATER. AS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN DETROIT, THE AQUARIUM WELCOMES AROUND 180,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CONSERVANCY HAS CURATED AN EXCEPTIONAL VISITOR ENGAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND BECOME EXCITED ABOUT THE CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC LIFE AND HABITATS. THE EDUCATIONAL PRONG OF OUR MISSION EXTENDS MOST THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM (DPSCD) WHERE WE PROVIDE FREE, CURRICULUM-BASED FIELD TRIPS TO FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE SUMMER WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF PROJECT BASED EDUCATION MODALITIES. THROUGH THE AQUARIUM WE PARTNER WITH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES AND CONSERVATION GROUPS TO FURTHER PROPEL OUR MESSAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN MANAGES THE CONSERVATORY, BUT LEANS ON THE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS TO FACILITATE FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, LEAD TOURS, SUPPORT SCHEDULING, TRAIN DOCENTS AND INTERPRETERS, FACILITATE COMMUNITY- BASED PROGRAMS, SUPPLEMENT THE PLANT COLLECTIONS WITH ADDITIONAL FLOWERS AND PLANTS, AND HELP IN THE FUND RAISING OF MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, MOST NOTABLY THE RESTORATION OF THE CONSERVATORY'S MAIN DOME

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: PRESERVING THE BUILDINGS, FOUNTAINS, STATUES, HISTORIC LANDSCAPE AND OTHER HISTORIC AMENITIES OF BELLE ISLE PARK; INCLUDES PLANNING, RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY RAISES PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT AND THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. IN 2012, THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY RAISED FUNDS FOR A COMPLETE RESTORATION OF THE ROOF OF THE HORSE STABLES, A LARGE COMPLEX DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT GEORGE MASON IN THE 1920'S. THE CLAY TILE ROOF WAS COMPLETELY REPAIRED AND WHERE NECESSARY, REBUILT, ENSURING THE PRESERVATION OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN A PROMINENT AREA OF THE PARK. ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT HAS BEEN RAISING FUNDS TO REPLACE THE PEWABIC TILES IN THE JAMES SCOTT MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN. THE CONSERVANCY HAS ALSO SUPPORTED THE CITY'S EFFORT TO RENEW THE NATIONAL REGISTER FOR HISTORIC PLACES DESIGNATION FOR BELLE ISLE, THROUGH DOCUMENTATION, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. THE BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY HAS ACTED AS A FIDUCIARY FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT FOR STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE GRANTS TO RESTORE THE NANCY BROWN PEACE CARILLON TOWER WHICH IS IN DISREPAIR, AND TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF RECONNECTING THE BELLE ISLE AQUARIUM AND ANNA SCRIPPS WHITCOMB CONSERVATORY, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY ALBERT KAHN IN THE EARLY 1900S. CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS CONSTANTLY MONITOR THE CONDITION OF BELLE ISLE STRUCTURES, STREETLIGHTS, FOOTPATH BRIDGES OVER THE CANALS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND REPORT PROBLEMS TO BELLE ISLE CONSERVANCY, THE CITY OF DETROIT AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES