Fountain on Detroit's Belle Isle getting $400K in upgrades

A historic fountain on Detroit's Belle Isle will get $400,000 in upgrades following a charity fundraiser that was held as part of the Detroit Grand Prix.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Tuesday announced that efforts to keep the James Scott Memorial Fountain operating will get nearly half of the roughly $1 million raised for the Belle Isle Conservancy during the 2018 Grand Prixmiere, a major fundraiser for the island park.

The marble fountain was designed by architect Cass Gilbert. Over the years it fell into disrepair, but efforts have increased in recent years to improve the attraction.

Last month, Michigan's Department of Natural and race organizers announced an agreement to keep the Grand Prix on Belle Isle for at least three more years.