Belle Isle, originally known as Hog Island, was first settled by French explorers in the 1700’s. With approximately 900 acres, Belle Isle is the country’s largest city island park, exceeding the size of New York City’s Central Park. The island was planned by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the man credited with establishing the landscape architecture profession. Most of the well-known buildings on the island were designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn.
Belle Isle became the 102nd state park in Michigan in 2014.
Photographs by Rod Arroyo, www.CityPhotosAndBooks.com
