The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is just around the corner.
Work is already underway to get the track ready, but a group of residents is raising concerns over the noise and pollution the race creates.
Skip Davis is with the group Belle Isle Concern, a community group formed two years ago out of frustration over the extremely long set-up and tear-down period of the Grand Prix.
Davis told CTV Windsor he's not opposed to the race, just the location. "Find a new place for the race. Our beautiful public nature park has been turned into a private race track for commercial use."
Grand Prix Chair Bud Denker says organizers are doing their best to address the residents' concerns."We hear it. We understand it. We also decreased our build-out this year by a whole week from what it was last year by listening to them." Denker adds, "We have 100,000 people that will be on the island that weekend that are supporters of our event."
Davis counters that the entire preparation period is a major disruption for those who use the park for its intended purpose. "Cement barriers, cyclone fencing, detours, construction cones. Since the move to Belle Isle, it's been a three month annoyance for people who use the park daily, who love to walk and bicycle and picnic."
The 2018 edition of the race goes June 1.