Conservation Foundation honors Skidmore College for trees of North Broadway
Skidmore College was honored for its contribution to improving Saratoga Springs’ landscape after planting dozens of trees and making other improvements to its north entrance on Broadway.
The Saratoga Springs Conservation Foundation has awarded Skidmore the Landscape Initiative Award, one of several 2023 Conservation Recognition Awards that honor city residents and organizations that have made notable contributions to preserving and enhancing Saratoga Springs’ architectural, cultural and landscape heritage.
The 64 large native sycamore trees planted by Skidmore are part of a renovated entrance project supported by Alan and Marilyn Gilbert, parents of 2014 school graduate Jessica Strasser.
“North Broadway, historically lined with grand mansions, has a double alley of trees, a row of trees planted near the sidewalk, and another row planted next to the sidewalk on each side of the street. Samantha Bosshart, executive director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, explained. “Unfortunately, over time, many of those trees have been lost.”
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation awarded Skidmore a Landscape Initiative Award to plant sycamore trees along North Broadway.
“Although no double alley was planted, the numerous trees planted by Skidmore College helped restore an important landscape feature to one of Saratoga Springs’ most prominent streets. The Foundation values its relationship with Skidmore College and is grateful that the college values the historic character of our city.”
In addition to planting trees, Skidmore installed new signs at the college’s main entrance, created new sidewalks and crosswalks, built a new roundabout at the North end of Broadway, and made stormwater improvements.
“Skidmore has partnered with our neighbors, the Conservation Foundation, the City of Saratoga Springs, and local vendors to make this project happen,” said Dan Roedecker, Skidmore’s associate vice president of facilities and planning.
“We are grateful for this recognition from the Conservation Foundation and are thrilled to be able to continue working together for the benefit of our beautiful city.” Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Planning Dan Roedeker
Planted in spring 2023, each of the sycamore trees is 3 inches in diameter and spans more than 15 feet in height. The college also plans to plant more than 140 additional trees as part of the ongoing McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center project.
Roedecker noted that both the entrance project and the McCaffery-Wageman project, which is scheduled for completion next year and will receive LEED certification, reflect Skidmore’s enduring commitment to sustainability — an overarching theme of Skidmore’s 2022 campus master plan.
In addition to the trees, 1,000 shrubs and perennials will be planted as part of the McCaffery-Wageman project.
Roedeker and Facilities Manager Bruce Murray, who directly oversaw the entrance project and personally planted a number of trees, received the Conservation Foundation Award at a ceremony on Wednesday, September 13.
“All of the new trees Skidmore is planting are native species that will enrich our campus and beautify our city for decades and decades to come,” Murray said.
