after years of problems, in 2013, the city of detroit declared bankruptcy. a state emergency manager was appointed by the state government to oversee the city's finances. as part of the process, the state proposed taking over belle isle and converting it into a state park. michigan governor rick snyder signed a lease on october 1, 2013, to lease the park from the city for 30 years; while the city council rejected that offer in mid-october, the michigan emergency loan board opted for the state's proposal on november 12, 2013. it set a 90-day transition period beginning on december 1, 2013, to turn the park operations over to the state. as a state park, it now requires users entering by car or motorcycle to either pay the standard state park user entrance fee or to have a michigan recreational passport sticker on the license plate of their vehicles. there is no charge for those who walk, bicycle or jog to the park.