We wanted to share a bit of Chippewa Watershed Conservancy history. You may be familiar with the President’s Award, also known as the Bob Ball Award. You may even know that Bob Ball was a co-founder of the Conservancy.
We wanted to share more about Bob and his lasting impact on conservation in our region.
Bob Ball was a man who cared deeply for the land and people in his community. He worked for Hubscher in the gravel pits and was also a beekeeper. He lived in the same house on Whiteville Road all his life. Friends recount how he loved to travel during the winter, especially to the American West, and gave numerous slide show talks throughout the community.
Bob Ball served on the Isabella County Parks & Recreation Commission for 15 years. During that time, he led the effort to acquire Meridian Park. If not for his advocacy, Meridian Park would be a subdivision. Meridian Park was the first local project approved by the Michigan Land Trust Fund. He also arranged for the donation of Majeske Landing and laid out the trail system at Deerfield Park. He also assisted Rolland Township with the acquisition of Paydon Park. During his time as a member of the Isabella County Sportsmens Club, the group acquired the 40-acre parcel that was sold to the Chippewa Valley Audubon Club and is now the CWC’s Audubon Woods Florence Maxwell Preserve.
Bob and his wife, Dorothy, acquired and donated what is now CWC’s Bob and Dorothy Ball Preserve.
Bob was also honored with the following achievements:
Chippewa Valley Audubon Club Conservationist of the Year 1996
Wakelin McNeel Group of the Sierra Club Service Award 1987
Isabella County Parks and Recreation Life Service Award 1986
A quote by CWC co-founder John Mitchell from 1997, while serving as CWC President, rings as true today as it did then: “I don’t know of anyone who has knocked on more doors, talked to more people, asking them to save what is wild and best about our area. When you hear that the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy has saved another parcel, think of Bob, because the organization wouldn’t exist without him.”
Because of the vision of Bob and others, the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy celebrates 40 years of land protection today. We will continue to stand on the shoulders of giants and, with the generosity and heartfelt support of community members, guide this vital work into the future.
Photograph: Bob Ball, Tom Mitchell, and Dorothy Ball
