  The images contained within are part of an ongoing project born of the doldrums of winter life in Detroit. They are all made on Belle Isle, an island park situated in the Detroit River just inside the U.S. border with Canada.  Designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead (designer of New York's Central Park) in the late 1800s, the park once referred to as "Detroit's Jewel" fell prey to the neglect that plagued many of it's inner-city counterparts throughout the 1970s and 80s. Lack of funds and upkeep nearly destroyed the park until recent efforts began aimed at restoring it's original beauty. It has now been nearly 2 years since I made the first of this series of images (on right) in the winter of 1995. Although my visits are fewer than when I first began, I still cruise the Island a couple times a month in search of new inspiration. Still I am finding interesting images as the park and my view of it changes and several newer photographs can be found in this updated version of the site. The
restoration of the island has continued as well. The series of inland lakes and waterways
have undergone dredging and cleaning operations and native fish are being restocked and
managed. Statues and sculptures that had been showing their neglect have undergone
cleaning and repair and the Scott Fountain facelift has been completed and it now runs
throughout the summer months in its original glory. -Bill Schwab 11-1-97 All Images Copyright ©1996-97 Bill Schwab |