For decades, South Broadway has been the, shall we say, less glamorous step sibling of bustling Broadway and picturesque North Broadway. But thanks to the work of one nascent nonprofit, a former eyesore at the corner of South Broadway and Ballston Ave is now a vibrant green space.
It’s all because of Tom Denny, former Skidmore music history professor turned avid conservationist. “It’s been an ugly, barren spot for about 25 years,” he says of the .2-acre parcel that was most recently a gas station. “I’m on the Open Space Advisory Committee, and seeing this parcel, I thought that maybe its owner would be willing to give it to a nonprofit.”
It turns out, the owner was willing, and SoBro Conservancy was born. Since incorporating in 2021, the organization has mobilized volunteers to enrich the parcel’s soil, prepared three flower beds and planted 600 pollinator-friendly plants.
“The whole web of life that depends on little insects is declining because of pesticide use, concrete and grass monoculture,” Denny says. “But small parcels scattered throughout a city actually have quite a bit of an impact.” Now, dozens of species of butterflies, bees and other critters call the intersection of Routes 50 and 9 home.
This summer, SoBro volunteers re-greened about half of the parcel, and Denny plans to finish the job next summer. Then, the focus will shift to education—bringing attention to the need for this kind of “pocket park”—and, potentially, future parcels. “This one was given to us,” Denny says, laughing. “If anybody else wants to give us Saratoga property, great.”
Denny is one of 10 honorees featured in the holiday issues of Saratoga Living and Capital Region Living. Join him and nine others at our 6th annual Capital Region Gives Back event, returning to Putnam Place at 6pm on December 11.