Detroit's Iconic Slide Returns with Enhanced Safety Measures

A massive slide in Detroit has made a triumphant return, boasting a dent-free reopening. Previously capturing attention with its viral videos showcasing riders zooming down the bumpy ramp, the six-lane slide at Belle Isle State Park has undergone some changes since then, the AP reported. This time around, the Department of Natural Resources has added padding and obtained new sacks for riders, but they have chosen to forgo the application of wax.

Reactions to the refurbished slide have been varied. Eliseah Griffin, an 11-year-old rider, described her experience as "awesome" albeit a bit scary, according to The Detroit News. However, some riders voiced their disappointment in the absence of wax, believing it diminished the thrill. Lorraine Edwards, a 66-year-old rider, remarked, "It was no fun at all. It didn't do anything."

Back in 2022, the high-flying exploits of slide riders gained considerable attention. The videos even earned a mention on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and caught the ear of local Detroit rapper Gerald Allen, known as Gmac Cash, who crafted a song dedicated to the exhilarating slide. With lyrics like "It's like jumping off a roof, man, you can lose a tooth," the song captured the essence of its daredevil nature.

Meagan Elliott, the president of the Belle Isle Conservancy, a group that oversees park operations, expressed the joy experienced by park enthusiasts after the slide's long-awaited reopening. Those who frequent the park had long been eager for its return, and Elliott herself expressed her delight by taking a ride down the slide on its reopening day.

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