Belle Isle is Detroit's Central Park. Actually, they were both designed by the same man, Frederick Law Olmsted. The city of Detroit bought this 982 acre island for $200,000 in 1879. Many residents opposed the huge expense, but lucky for us, the sale went through.

The island sits in the middle of the Detroit River. To the south is Windsor, Ontario and to the north, the city of Detroit. The only entrance to Belle Isle is the half mile-long MacArthur Bridge on the Detroit side of the river.

Between 1903 and 1930, the Belle Isle Casino, the Aquarium, Whitcomb Conservatory and Livingstone Lighthouse were built. They were all designed by the famous American architect, Albert Kahn. Today the Casino has activities for senior citizens rather than gambling, and, sadly, the Aquarium was closed in 2005 due to lack of funds. The conservatory and lighthouse are still in use. Belle Isle is also home to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, the soon-to-be reopened Nature Center, the Nancy Brown Peace Tower (a carillon), the Belle Isle Band Shell, the Detroit Yacht Club & marina, and the old Detroit Boat Club (now just used by rowers).

There is something for everyone on Belle Isle: a half-mile swimming beach, a forest in the center, soccer & baseball fields, tennis, handball & basketball courts, a track, golf course, children's playgrounds including a giant slide, dozens of large & small picnic pavilions, two fishing piers, lagoons and 5 miles of shoreline. As you can imagine, Belle Isle is a photographer's dream come true.

I took the photos in this gallery on February 14, 2007, the day after our first large snow storm of the season. My greatest surprise was seeing an ocean freighter heading downriver towards the Detroit harbor. It was the first such freighter I'd seen since ice had started forming on Lake St. Clair in January. As a safety measure--and perhaps to be on the lookout for ice--it was being led by a Coast Guard cutter. You'll see photos of both in this gallery.