Belle Isle is situated in a unique context when it comes to governmental agency. The island is currently owned by the City of Detroit who is leasing out the land to the State of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources. An increased interest in conservation has attracted the attention of many US Federal agencies throughout the years. While Belle Isle falls within the US border, the island's location near the border that runs in the Detroit river means Canada also has a vested interest. Proximity to a border, access to a waterway, and recent state control also mean an increase in military and police presence on the island. More frequent traffic stops have happened in recent years, an activity that often deters minority Detroiters from visiting.