People, Place, & Things is an ongoing collection of stories about Belle Isle and the impact it has on those who visit and nurture it. Each month, researcher Talitha Tukura Pam will post tales of people whose lives have been transformed, those who have found healing, community, and spiritual renewal through their connection to this unique place. Belle Isle is more than a park; it’s a sanctuary where nature restores individuals and communities—and it can offer even more if you allow it. As you explore these stories, let them inspire you to listen, learn, and broadly and bravely connect more deeply with the natural world around you.
All Posts
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Rooted in Legacy
In the early 2000s, Sarah found herself at Oakwood Community College, enrolled in a history of landscape architecture course, unaware that this requirement would wind up shaping the next decades of her life. For an assignment, Sarah chose Frederick Law Olmsted, the visionary behind many famous parks in the United States. But it wasn’t Central Park that caught her attention—it was Belle Isle, an island park nestled in the middle of the Detroit River.
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Build a Boat: A Pragmatic and Critical Educational Approach
“Why are you here?” So began my conversation with Simi, a youthful participant in the Detroit River Story Lab Skiff & Schooner boat-building program at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. It was a beautiful summer day in Detroit, and while Belle Isle is an undeniably pleasant place and the museum—showcasing over 300 years of regional maritime history—a popular destination, it’s not a typical hangout spot for teens. But Simi had a specific purpose for being there. “Because I wanna learn how to build a boat.”
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Feet in the Water, Hearts in the Wind: A Belle Isle Encounter
A soft breeze carried the sound of singing and praying across Belle Isle Beach as I walked along the water’s edge. Curious, I noticed a group of women and children gathered in the shallows, their coats and bags on the shore. They stood in the water, some waist-deep, others with their feet submerged, but all of them joyful, despite being wet. Was it a baptism? I moved closer, trying to make sense of what was happening. I had attended a few baptisms before, and although I wasn’t an expert, this felt different. There were too many people in the water,…
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From Central Park to Belle Isle: Reflections on Nature, Family, and Public Spaces
JJ Vélez’s early experience with urban parks wound up shaping not only his personal but his professional journey. Having served as Deputy Director for Detroit Parks and Recreation, he now works as the Director of Public Space for the Rocket Community Fund, where his project portfolio focuses on developing and redeveloping public spaces within Detroit through programming and placemaking, ensuring that local communities can continue to enjoy life-shaping experiences at magical places like Belle Isle.
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Isle of Resilience
To Lori, a girl growing up in Detroit in the 1950s, Belle Isle floated quietly as a background in her life. Sundays were often spent driving by the park as her father pointed it out on their way to visit family near Harper and Gratiot. They didn’t stop often, but petting the baby animals at the zoo stands out vividly as a memory of one special visit. A small moment, perhaps, but one that somehow stayed with her. Like many who grew up in the area, Lori can’t pinpoint the first time she encountered Belle Isle. It had always been…
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