Bloomfield Hills Man Pitches in at Belle Isle

Bill Hall, head of sustainability and business continuity with Chrysler, was part of a group of more than 100 Chrysler employees to partner with the Belle Isle Conservancy to help preserve Belle Isle Park in Detroit last month.

The employees, most of whom were from the Company’s Powertrain Manufacturing Group, spent six hours potting native plants in the greenhouse, removing invasive plant species, such as honeysuckle, and by clearing dead wood and brush from along the canals and forest on Belle Isle, one of Detroit’s jewels.

We asked Hall to share his thoughts about the experience and what's ahead for one of Detroit's beloved landmarks. 

Have you had a history of volunteering at Belle Isle or have any special connection to it, or was this your first time?

While I’ve been a long-time fan and visitor to Belle Isle, this is my first time volunteering.  My wife and some other good friends have been involved with the Conservancy for many years, so it’s about time I rolled up my sleeves to help.

What were your takeaways from the work and improvements you made?

I’m very impressed with the passion of the volunteers, including the Belle Isle Conservancy leadership and those who supervised our specific work with habitat             restoration. These individuals’ dedication and focus on restoring and enhancing Belle Isle is inspiring. 

Can you characterize the challenges ahead?   

The big challenge is to nurture support from the private sector – the park needs funding, know-how, and lots of “arms and legs” to accomplish their tasks; and residents of the broader Southeast Michigan community can all contribute.

Were people discussing Detroit's recent bankruptcy, and what was the overall feeling about it?

The focus of our day was to help maintain the natural beauty of Belle Isle so that future generations can continue to take advantage of the recreational and educational opportunities the park has to offer.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Belle Isle has wonderful history, impressive architecture, and natural beauty. A healthy city needs its vibrant parks, so let’s support Belle Isle!