DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – A giant, six-lane slide reopened on Belle Isle over the weekend after being shut down for two years due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the ride didn’t start off smoothly.
Video shows people riding down the slide on burlap sacks, bouncing and crashing their way to the bottom.
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The giant slide at Belle Isle Park in Michigan was open for only 4 hours before workers shut it down to make adjustments.
I wonder why they decided to do such a thing 😳 pic.twitter.com/q7jpFdLdAO
— Art (@artcombatpod) August 19, 2022
This forced The Michigan Department of Natural Resources to close the slide early; workers said they retouched the slide with wax to slow down riders.
It didn’t take long for the video of the riders to go viral. Michigan native and former NBA player Jalen Rose called the slide a “313 thing” and he was “born into this.”
Jalen Rose @JalenRose wants you all to know the Giant Slide was always dangerous🤣🤣
He said Belle Isle’s savage Giant Slide made him who he is today.
“We thought that was normal. So, I’m glad now that it’s gone viral & people see this.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/YukZ9DSJ5q
— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) August 22, 2022
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Some people wasted no time poking fun at the slick slide.
Welcome back Belle Isle slide 😎 pic.twitter.com/ycAAT9Jnfl
— Joe Lopez 🇺🇸 (@joelopez313) August 21, 2022
Others said the video shows how people have gone “soft.”
I rode this same slide on Belle Isle when I was 8-9 years old. Bounced just like this and thought it was fun. The world’s gone SOFTT https://t.co/VPAensjQH0
— Chicago: “1/3 SF, 2/3 Detroit” (@petesaunders3) August 22, 2022
Just watched a video on the giant slide at belle isle . Any one catching air clearly didn’t listen to the instructor that tells u when to go.
— 💜🖤QueenBee🖤💜 (@AuntieMeekz) August 22, 2022
The six-lane slide, which first opened in 1967, will continue to operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day.
The cost is $1 per slide.
