The mission of SoBro Conservancy is to conserve vacant urban parcels and transform them into pollinator-friendly green spaces, while educating about how such green spaces strengthen the web of life on which human well-being depends. Founded in 2021, we negotiated the donation of a 0.2-acre parcel at 209 South Broadway, closing on the acquisition in July 2022. This long-barren property sits at one of Saratoga's most prominent intersections, where South Broadway, Ballston Ave,., and Circular St. meet. The vision is to bring life back to this parcel. Over the next few years, the regreening process will involve planning and design, an extensive soil improvement regimen, the installation of appropriate infrastructure, and diverse plantings that will mature into a pollinator-friendly habitat. As the project unfolds, large-growing shade trees and smaller flowering trees will be planted, plus flowers, shrubs, ground covers, and other vegetation that will provide habitat and food sources for pollinators and songbirds. The highly visible location of our first project lends itself to use as a high-impact educational model site from which to educate about the critical importance of such pollinator refuges.

A volunteer position, appointed by the Mayor. During my time as chair, the committee's main work has been development of two major planning documents for City Council adoption: the Natural Resources Inventory (adopted 2020) and the update of the Open Space Plan (adopted 2023).

Sustainable Saratoga's UFP