named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
6 Parks Maintenance
Owns and maintains six parks in Saranac Lake: Beaver Park, Denny Park, Dorsey Park, Sunset Park & Arboretum, Triangle Park, and Vest Pocket Park, each managed by volunteer park managers
DEC Camp Colby Scholarships
Provides annual scholarships for one or two local middle school students to attend DEC Camp Colby, supporting youth environmental education
Village Flowers
Plants and maintains hanging flower baskets, flower planters, and garden beds throughout downtown Saranac Lake, including at NBT Circle, Alpine Parking Lot, and Veterans Memorials
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 3 activities
- Historic park development and land acquisitionAcquired land over the 20th century to establish and expand public parks, including Veterans’ Triangle, Prescott Park, Baldwin Park, Seymour Park, Mullen Park, Riverside Park, Denny Park, Beaver Park, Dorsey Street Park, Vest Pocket Park, Church Street Extension Parklette, Welcome Garden, and Prospect Corner, in alignment with the 1907 Olmsted Plan.
- Management and maintenance of public parksOwns and maintains six local parks in Saranac Lake, including Beaver Park, Denny Park, Dorsey Park, Sunset Park & Arboretum, Triangle Park, and Vest Pocket Park, providing green spaces for public recreation, relaxation, and community enjoyment.
- Restoration and development of waterfront and riverfront areasRestored the Saranac River from a garbage dump into a clean, accessible waterway for recreation and developed the Lake Flower waterfront with landscaping, green space, and public boat launches to enhance public access and enjoyment.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Administration of community recognition programsAdministers annual awards recognizing well-maintained homes and businesses in Saranac Lake to promote community pride and beautification.
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Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Awarding scholarships for youth environmental educationProvides DEC Camp Colby scholarships to one or two local middle school students annually to support participation in environmental education programs.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Community beautification through flower planting and garden maintenancePlants and maintains hanging flower baskets, flower planters, flower beds, and seasonal gardens throughout downtown Saranac Lake and at village entry points, including The Garden at NBT Circle, the Herb Garden, and the Alpine Parking Lot, enhancing community aesthetics and public enjoyment.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Establishment and stewardship of public arboretum and educational gardensMaintains Sunset Park & Arboretum as a certified Urban Wildlife Sanctuary with over 35 varieties of Adirondack trees and established the Olive Street arboretum to support public education and appreciation of tree species.
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Memorial and Veteran Honor Services 1 activity
- Maintenance of veterans memorials and commemorative gardensMaintains three veterans memorials: the Veteran War Memorial Garden and Bandshell at River & Main Streets, the World War I War Memorial and Star Garden at River & Church Streets, and the Vietnam and MIA Memorial Garden on Lake Flower Avenue.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$14K
Contributions & grants$13K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1781%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$14K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$268K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$267K
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -5.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 6
- Cathy LeBlanc — Director
- Donna Walsh — Director
- Elle Finocan — Director
- Jennifer Keller — Director
- Judy Steinburg — Director
- Katie Stiles — Director
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Adirondack Daily Enterprise Partner — Published and reprinted editorial content about the Village Improvement Society's work.
- DEC Camp Colby Partner — Provides scholarships for local middle school students to attend camp.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook as a communication channel for volunteer outreach and engagement.
- Saranac Lake Library Partner — Co-located with Vest Pocket Park, enabling public access to free WiFi from park benches.
- Village of Saranac Lake Partner — Co-sponsors flower barrel planters maintained by VIS volunteers.
- Village of Saranac Lake Partner — Shares ownership and maintenance responsibilities for Veterans’ Triangle; received transfer of Lake Flower parks to maintain in perpetuity; collaborated on development of River Walk and Church Street Extension Parklette.
- local merchants Partner — Sponsor flower barrel planters planted and tended by VIS volunteers.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Beautification as Civic Engagementmethodology: community_beautificationBy using floral planting and park improvements as visible, tangible projects, the society fosters community pride and collective identity because shared aesthetic efforts create emotional attachment and motivate ongoing participation.
- Small Open Spaces for Civic Beautymethodology: small_open_spacesBy maintaining small, distributed green spaces throughout the village, the society enhances overall quality of life and community well-being because accessible pockets of nature provide rest, beauty, and environmental connection in daily life.
- Volunteer-Driven Stewardship Modelmethodology: volunteer_stewardshipBy organizing community members into volunteer stewardship roles with ownership over specific parks, the society sustains long-term maintenance and beautification because local accountability and personal investment increase engagement and pride.