Belle Isle (Miami Beach) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Isle
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Belle Isle and the Venetian Causeway, c. 1960s
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| Nickname(s):
Bull Isle (historic name)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Miami-Dade County |
| City | Miami Beach |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,755 |
| Time zone | UTC-05 (EST) |
| ZIP Code |
33139
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| Area codes | 305, 786 |
Belle Isle is a cool neighborhood in Miami Beach, Florida. It's on an island in Biscayne Bay. This island is the easternmost of the Venetian Islands. These islands are a chain of man-made islands in Biscayne Bay. Belle Isle has apartment buildings, a part of the Venetian Causeway, a city park, and a hotel. It sits between Rivo Alto Island and the main barrier island of Miami Beach.
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The Story of Belle Isle
Belle Isle was once called "Bull Isle." It later got its nicer name. Unlike most of the other Venetian Islands, Belle Isle isn't completely man-made. It started as a natural island with mangrove trees in north Biscayne Bay. This was before the area was even called "Miami Beach."
How Belle Isle Grew
Back in 1913, a fruit farmer named John S. Collins teamed up with a rich investor, Carl G. Fisher. They wanted to build the Collins Bridge from Miami. Before this bridge, you could only reach the new fancy properties and Collins' avocado farms by ferry boat.
When Collins dug the Collins Canal, workers used the sand they dug up. They piled this sand around the natural island. This made the island bigger and gave it its current shape. The "improved" island was cleared of mangroves. It was then divided into small plots for homes. This new land stretched into Biscayne Bay. It allowed Collins and Fisher to build a shorter wooden bridge right over Belle Isle. This made Belle Isle the main entrance to Miami Beach. It became known as a special place for rich people, like Joseph H. Adams. His huge home covered the southeast part of the island.
Exciting Boat Races
During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, Belle Isle was a very exciting place. Carl G. Fisher also owned the nearby Flamingo Hotel. Both places hosted famous speed boat races in Biscayne Bay. Fisher was good at promoting car races in Indianapolis. He used these skills to create thrilling gasoline-powered speed boat races. These races happened in the calm waters just south of Belle Isle. They were a big show to attract wealthy and fancy tourists. Fisher wanted these people to visit his new, exotic vacation spot.
Belle Isle's Other Uses
In 1942, the University of Miami used a boat house on the Joseph H. Adams estate. They turned it into the first Marine Lab. This lab was for the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. Belle Isle was also home to the All Souls Episcopal Church until at least 1947.
More recently, on January 24, 2018, the Belle Isle Court Apartments were torn down. This three-story apartment building was built in 1939. A new building will be constructed on that spot at 31 Venetian Way.
Life on Belle Isle
The Belle Isle Residents Association started in December 2004. This group works to "make life better for the people living on Belle Isle." They focus on things like safety, traffic, parking, and keeping the park beautiful. They also care about cleanliness, open spaces, and new buildings.
Park Improvements
Belle Isle Park is in the middle of the island. It got a makeover in 2006. This included new sidewalks, better lighting, and pretty landscaping. They also added picnic areas and a special park for dogs. There were also plans to improve the streets and bridges in 2008 and 2009.
Parking on the Island
Parking used to be free on Island Avenue until 2005. Then, residents asked the city to create a new parking zone. This was to make sure residents had parking after the Standard Hotel opened. Now, Island Avenue is a special residential parking zone. You need a permit for Zone 14 to park there.
