DETROIT, MI -- The days of universally free access to Belle Isle appear to be numbered, but so do the days of spotty landscaping, blocked pathways, closed restrooms and bad graffiti on Detroit's island park.

Starting in January, drivers will have to pay an $11 annual fee for a Recreation Passport that grants access to Belle Isle and 101 other state parks, under the terms of a new agreement leasing the city-owned park to the state.

The state is asking City Council to OK the lease agreement within 10 days, but it's already been signed by Detroit's emergency manager, the governor and the heads of Michigan's Natural Resources and Transportation departments.

The rent-free lease is estimated to save Detroit $4-6 million a year while promising $10-20 million in park improvements over the next three years.

President of the Belle Isle Conservancy Michelle Hodges said she expects the park to thrive whether under city or state control, but that things become easier with state park status.

"It was just a difference of how many steps it was going to take, and this minimizes the number of steps," Hodges said. "It removes the uncertainty."

Despite being run by an underfunded city recreation department, the park became host to a number of new major events over the past year, including Metallica's Orion music festival, the MuckFest mud run and, planned for next summer, the World Cup of Gardening.

Hodges said fundraising will come easier under the state lease and she expects almost immediate, visible improvements like removal of fallen trees and landscaping upgrades.

"The city team has done a marvelous job with doing a lot with a little and now we can add to that with the state," Hodges said.

The $11 annual fee won't apply to pedestrians, bicyclists or public transportation riders, and Hodges believes Detroiters are willing to pay for a better park.

"There's a willingness to pay that fee," she said. "Quite frankly I've been surprised at the level of willingness that I've measured."

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is also on board with the agreement, a 30-year lease with two 15-year renewals that take effect automatically, unless the city or state withdraws with a year notice.

"Detroit’s current financial condition prohibits the city from investing in the much-needed restoration of Belle Isle," said Bing in a statement. "As I stated last year when a proposed lease agreement was developed, my administration strongly believes the state park structure is the best option for managing and maintaining the island and restoring it to its grandeur."

A seven-member advisory committee with at least three Detroit residents will have input on improvements and master planning for the park, state officials said in the announcement of the lease Tuesday.

The governor will appoint three committee members. Detroit City Council will appoint one. The mayor will choose two and another will be appointed jointly by the mayor and governor.

Snyder first proposed turning the island into a state park last year, but City Council declined to approve the move after a vocal group of residents who wanted the city to keep control of the park staged numerous protests that coincided with the state moving toward a takeover of city government.

The governor then withdrew the offer and said it could be a possibility in 2014.

Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr indicated after being appointed in March that he would pursue the deal.

Orr has signed the lease and Council President Saunteel Jenkins on Tuesday asked the council's lawyers to look into the state's emergency manager law in relation to leasing municipal assets.

"I was not opposed to a lease for Belle Isle," she said. "I was opposed to a lease for Belle Isle that didn't include any protections for residents... and didn't guarantee any improvements."

The state in its announcement of the agreement asserted that Michigan's emergency manager law gives the council 10 days to approve the move, and if it rejects it, "an additional seven days to advance an alternative that would save the same amount of money or more as the lease."

Under the terms of the deal, the Department of Natural Resources will take control of the island and keep any revenues generated by the park, excluding the entry fees, in a separate account dedicated to Belle Isle improvement and maintenance.

The state also promises to implement training initiatives to encourage local hiring for jobs on the island and to work with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation to help Detroit businesses seek state contracts on Belle Isle.

View the full lease agreement here

Follow MLive Detroit reporter Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527..