Demolition has begun at the former Safariland zoo structures on Belle Isle as part of a redevelopment and update for the island on the Detroit River. 

"There's been a long history of zoos in the park. I think that was the fourth zoo here in the island. Now, that tradition continues at the Belle Isle Nature Center on the east side of the park," said Amanda Treadwell, a DNR urban area field planner. 

Belle Isle Park is a 985-acre Michigan DNR site near downtown Detroit, with views of both Michigan and Ontario. There is an aquarium, a nature center run by the Detroit Zoo, a garden and a conservatory on the island. 

The Safariland area operated until 2002. Since the zoo site's closure, the DNR said, much of the infrastructure, buildings and boardwalk have deteriorated and become "safety risks to the public."  

Visitors are looking forward to the changes.

"It was just sitting idle for so long, and you just had the guys coming in doing their graffiti, and I think they were having a hard time even keeping people out of there all the time," said Glen Ryder of Harper Woods.

With the help of $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, state officials were able to schedule the demolition to start in November. That work will continue for the next few weeks. 

"There's a lot of invasive material that's grown up in there over the last 20 years, so we're working to clear that out and protect all the large mature trees in that space," Treadwell said.

The DNR said that ARPA money allocated to Michigan will also be used toward the cost of deferred maintenance, such as repairs to the James Scott Memorial Fountain and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Belle Isle Aquarium. 

"I just think there's a great opportunity to have more recreational trail access in natural parts of the park. "We're looking forward to be able to welcome people back into this space," Treadwell said.

The Safariland area work includes removing the deteriorating zoo buildings and removing invasive species to allow for the redevelopment in that area. An ecologist and forester were assigned by the DNR to work with the contractor to ensure that numerous oak trees that are over 100 years old are protected during demolition. 

The DNR said the current work will also take into account the island's habitat areas, which are known to be used by endangered species of fox snake and bats. 

The plans for natural spaces and trails in the former zoo site came about through public meetings and other feedback projects.