Should The Grand Prix Race On Belle Isle? This Group Says No

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (a mouthful, for sure) marks its 30th anniversary and kicks off three days of racing starting May 31.

The annual event attracts nearly 100,000 visitors to Belle Isle, is televised nationwide and says it has helped raise more than $13 million for improvements since the race returned to Belle Isle in 2007. But the race also renders a big chunk of the island inaccessible for more than two months each spring, just as Detroiters are emerging from the long winter.

And despite a new three-year deal to keep the race there, a group called Belle Isle Concern claims it isn’t worth it. They say the race violates the island park’s mission and causes more money in damage than it brings in.

On this episode, we hear from group members Sandra Novacek, Angela Lugo-Thomas and Michael Betzold about why they think .

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you’re hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.