A TORCH DINNER
Reimagining Saratoga Springs One Parcel at a Time
Cities often change through large projects and sweeping plans, but sometimes the most lasting transformations begin with a single overlooked corner. When Tom Denny speaks to the Saratoga Torch Club, he will focus on the power of modest places to shape the character and ecological health of a community. His work with the SoBro Conservancy demonstrates how small urban parcels can become sites of renewal, education, and shared civic pride rather than reminders of neglect.
Tom Denny
Denny’s vision grew from a simple question: what if the forgotten spaces scattered across a city were treated not as problems but as opportunities? Through the creation of the SoBro Triangle, he has helped show how even a former industrial site can be restored into a landscape that supports pollinators, invites public curiosity, and contributes to the beauty of a neighborhood gateway. His approach blends environmental awareness with practical civic collaboration, bringing together volunteers, students, designers, and city partners in pursuit of a common goal.
In his talk, Denny will reflect on the long process of turning vision into reality. He will describe the environmental, logistical, and social challenges involved in reclaiming small parcels and explain why persistence, partnership, and patience are often as important as funding or design. His experience offers insight into how local initiatives can complement larger conservation efforts, proving that meaningful environmental stewardship can begin close to home.
The presentation will also invite listeners to think more broadly about the role of urban landscapes in shaping community identity. Pocket parks, native plantings, and accessible green spaces do more than improve aesthetics; they influence how residents experience their city and how visitors understand it. Denny’s work suggests that when communities invest care in their smallest spaces, they cultivate habits of responsibility that extend far beyond the boundaries of any one project.
This introduction to the SoBro Conservancy’s work promises to be both practical and reflective, illustrating how civic imagination can turn underused land into shared assets. By exploring the intersection of ecology, design, and community engagement, Tom Denny offers a compelling example of how local action can yield lasting public value. His talk will encourage Torch Club members to see their own surroundings not just as they are, but as they might become through thoughtful stewardship.
Smartacus Wonders
What first drew you into the work you’re doing now, and what has kept you committed to it over time?
From your perspective, what is the most important change happening in our community right now that people aren’t paying enough attention to?
What have you learned about leadership from experience rather than theory?
Where do you see the greatest opportunity for meaningful progress in the next few years—and what would it take to realize it?
If you could leave one idea or principle with the next generation of civic leaders, what would it be?
To Join Us for Dinner Before the Presentation
Dinner will be at the Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn starting with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. $40 payable by cash or check at the door. To make a reservation, email Richard Lynch at torchman999@gmail.com.
Thanks to the Smartacus Story Accelerator