Passion at Work: ECT’s Fifth Annual Giving Project

In its fifth year, our cherished tradition continues with ECT’s annual Giving Project. We have supported meaningful causes through charitable giving in the past, but this year we had the opportunity to put our passion to work for positive benefit! Even better, our team helped transform a place we know well, Palmer Park, on the northern border of the City of Detroit.

The park was nearly sold due to Detroit’s 2010 bankruptcy. In the years since that pivotal moment, a 100-year vision was prepared for the 280-acre urban treasure, and many social and environmental upgrades have been implemented. As consultants, we rehabilitated and restored the park’s 2-acre Lake Frances and adjacent natural areas. Discover more about Palmer Park’s Habitat Restoration Plan here. 

On September 17^th, we arrived on site with 250 ECT employees and stakeholder partners to tackle basic beautification and repair, but also technical environmental needs such as tree planting, invasive species clearing, a “bioblitz” for species identification, and more. This effort was part of our “Everyone@ECT” three-day employee gathering hosted in Detroit during that time.

Stacy Varner, People for Palmer Park Board President shared, “Palmer Park got a huge hug from your team. The overwhelming amount of joy shown was palpable. Your team of experts took charge – and the community, the City and its surrounding neighbors are the better for your work…A day of giving that made a big impact on our park.”

ECT contributed more than $100,000 in volunteer time and resources to support the park’s vision. Volunteer outcomes included removing invasive species from one acre of remnant Witherell Woods, planting 30 native trees, completing a floristic inventory along four transects, and removing debris throughout the park.

The project was conducted in collaboration with: