Citizens raise concerns about Detroit Grand Prix being held on Belle Isle

Belle Isle Concern members say the group is not against car racing, but against the use of Belle Isle as the racetrack.

'It’s a public park, not a private racetrack,' Belle Isle Concern says

CBC News ·
The City of Windsor sponsors the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix to the tune of $50,000 in exchange for naming rights of the international media centre. (The Associated Press)

Not everyone is excited about the Detroit Grand Prix happening on Belle Isle this coming weekend.

A group called Belle Isle Concern is protesting against the races being held on Belle Isle because members believe "it's a public park, not a private racetrack."

    "We want to reclaim our public park. It is supposed to be used for public park activities," said Sandra Novacek, a coordinator with Belle Isle Concern.

    "The park is for people to escape the stresses and the noise and chaos of daily living in the city and that's not what the car races [do]."

    Novacek said the group's primary goal is to get the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to stop races on Belle Isle from happening in the future.

    This aerial photo taken on April 19, 2010 shows Belle Isle, a unique Detroit park that sits in the middle of the Detroit River. (Brian Kaufman/Detroit Free Press/Associated Press)

    She said the group is not against car racing, but against the use of Belle Isle as the racetrack.

    Novacek said it takes officials about 70 days to set up and take down the course, which is time residents could spend using the park.

    The group says the City of Windsor, which put $50,000 into supporting the event, should think about the implications of an event like this, if it was on the Canadian side of the border.

    "Do you have car racing in your premier public park in Windsor? Would you allow a car race in your premier public park?" said Novacek.