Directory/Parks & Nature
Howe Development Property Management Group, or Howe Development for short, is a management company that owns several apartment buildings in the Park Avenue area, including The Roosevelt, where the Oxford Gallery is located. Apartment locations include Oxford Street, Meigs Street, and Goodman Street. Links Comments on r/Rochester
Increase Size! Located 25 miles south of Rochester in Livingston County, Hemlock is one of several Finger Lakes that make up the Finger Lakes region. Importantly Hemlock is one of two Finger Lakes whose shorelines are completely undeveloped, and at a half-mile wide and seven miles long it's absolutely beautiful that way. It wasn't always like this, there were once cabins and hotels dotted along the shoreline but around the turn of the century the City of Rochester bought the entire area and removed all artificial structures in order to make the Lake into the primary source of water for the City. In the 2000's management of the lake area was transferred to New York State and was incorporated into the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. Today there is still no local development allowed and water access is greatly limited to hiking trails only. Boating is allowed, but only by permit and engine horsepower is limited to 10hp and boat length a maximum of 16’. Add to this that there are only two gravel boat launches and you have a beautiful untouched, unspoiled landscape. Stats Elevation: 905 feet Area: 1,800 acres Length: 7 miles Width: 0.5 miles Depth: 91 feet Fishing Stocked with lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon. Past stocks: rainbow trout, brown trout, smelt, walleye, and lake whitefish. More info online NYSDEC web page Hemlock-Canadice State Forest Hemlock Lake, photos and description on the commercial website nyfalls.com Google sat map MSN sat photo Stats info from DEC website and other online sources See also Lake Ontario as a another source of water for the Greater Rochester Area.
Cobble Creek Farm is a seasonal garden center located on West Ridge Road in Spencerport. "A corn maze, fall hay ride, fresh homegrown produce and pumpkins, various farm animals to pet and a large seasonal garden center." Fall Family Fun on Rochester KidsOutandAbout
Owasco Lake is the sixth largest and third easternmost of the Finger Lakes located about 65 miles east-southeast of Rochester via I-90 and Routes 5 and 20. The City of Auburn is at its northernmost end and the Village of Moravia lies in the south. Both take their drinking water from the lake. Excerpt from "Persons, Places and Things In the Finger Lakes Region" by Emerson Klees1 The name "Owasco" is derived from the Indian word "Wasco" which means "outlet" or "floating bridge." A second derivation of the name is from the Indian word "Osco" that means "crossing place." Owasco Lake, smallest of the six major Finger Lakes, is 11.1 miles l.ong, 1.3 miles wide at its widest point, and has an average width of .9 mile. It is 177 feet deep at its deepest point, has a volume of 212 billion gallons, an has a watershed of 208 squae. miles. The lake is 710 feet above sea level. Owasco is a good trout fishing lake. The earliest inhabitants of the region were the mound builders, or Alleghans, who preceded the Iroquois Confederacy. The Alleghans built their large fortress of Osco on the present site of Fort Hill cemetery in the City of Auburn. They built an earthen altar for the worship of the sun within the walls of the fortress and mounds for the burial of their dead outside the walls. The Alleghans were driven from the region during the thirteenth century by the Cayugas. Wasco was located at the junction of two Iroquois Indian trails, just as Auburn is located at the junction of Routes 5 and 20 today. The Erie Canal, about ten miles north of Auburn, was completed in 1825. A canal was planned to link Auburn with the Erie Canal, and a dam was built across the outlet in 1835 as a first step in the construction of a canal. The canal was never built; however, the Syracuse and Auburn Railroad was built in 1838, and Auburn was linked by railroad to Rochester in 1841. In 1869, rail was laid from Fair Haven on Lake Ontario to Sayre, Pennsylvania, along the west shore of Owasco Lake. The line eventually became part of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Notes and References Wikipedia Article Owasco Lake, photos and description on the commercial website NYFalls.com (Rochester based) http://www.fingerlakes.com/owasco.htm Owasco] on FingerLakes.com Fishing Lake Owasco on GORP.Away.com Owasco with the System on OurLake.org 1Amazon.com Listing
Barnes & Noble @ RIT is a partnership between Barnes & Noble and the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition to being a two-story bookstore, it features a textbook store for RIT students, meeting space upstairs, and a Starbucks cafe. It is located in the new Park Point at RIT development on the corner of Jefferson Road and John Street in Henrietta. They accept RIT's Tiger Bucks as payment.
Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) is located, not surprisingly, at Braddock Bay State Park, on the south shore of Lake Ontario. The Research Center focuses on migratory raptors (in this case, hawks and owls). The bay itself is a natural waypoint on their migratory path, putting BBRR in an ideal position to track statistics. During peak times of the migratory seasons (roughly April and August), volunteers have seen over 100 hawks a day. BBRR's current research focuses on sex differences in migration, testing the theory that males migrate earlier than females (blood samples taken from banded birds are used to determine the sex). BBRR is also home to, at last count, 7 injured raptors. The birds, who are recovered from their injuries but unable to hunt, are cared for by BBRR volunteers. Volunteers are also available to do educational programs for a small fee, bringing live birds, books, and information to share with groups of all ages. Their annual Bird of Prey week is (?? must look up when it is when not at work~). In addition to all of this, BBRR hosts weekly "Hawk Walks" and "Owl Prowls," leaving Braddock Bay Park at 9am and 8am respectively each weekend (see website for details). Both are quiet walks through the various woods around the park in hopes of spotting a resting raptor. External Links BBRR Banding Station, location on Google Maps (note the pattern the traps make). Owl Species found in NY, photos and descriptions on the commercial website NYFalls.com (Rochester based)
The Fish Hatchery, 9-2008 Trout at the Hatchery, 9-2008 Powder Mills Park is a park in Pittsford, the highlights of which include a winding fishing stream stocked with trout, a fish hatchery, multiple hills for sledding, a small beginners' ski slope, several picnic areas with pavilions, and countless trails (xc ski and hiking) crisscrossing its interior. Biking is prohibited on the trails of this park. The park has many miles of trails which have recently been mapped (see http://www.powdermillspark.com for current maps). Note: The county map shows only a few of the actual trails! The trails were originally set up (probably back in the late 60's) with cross-country skiing in mind and are excellent in an ungroomed back-country way. Colored trail blazes are in place to guide you along various paths. Deer, birds, fox, coyote, rabbits are the wildlife most often seen. Irondequoit Creek goes through the middle of the park The small downhill ski slope has snowmaking and a rope tow to get you up the hill. Lessons and rentals are available at low cost. No xc ski rentals are available here. One very nice item is that the Powderhorn Lodge is open much of the winter (whenever the ski slope is open), so if you are crosscountry skiing, sledding, or snowshoeing, this is a nice place (with a fireplace and hot chocolate!) to warm up. Enter the park from Route 96 South of Bushnell's Basin near Interstate 490. The Park office is at 154 Park Road, Pittsford, NY 14534 Related Links * Monroe County Parks Department Powder Mills Park Page * Monroe County Parks Department Map * Hiking the Daffodil Trail * The Mushroom House is here. See Also Hiking Parks
Midtown Tower was a former office building and Hotel in the Midtown Plaza complex. It is now being redeveloped. Original Plan - Defunct Christa Development was originally planning on starting a rehabilitation project in 2010. The $62.2 million development calls for commercial development on the first three floors, 186 market-rate apartments on floors 4-13 and 24 owner-occupied condominiums on the upper floors. Some condos will offer garden terraces. Anticipated completion of mid-2012. Current Plans Future rendering of Midtown Tower After the deal with Christa fell through, Buckingham Properties joined forces with Morgan Management to transform the property into a mixed-use development offering apartments, retail, and possibly a movie theater. According to Amy Polochock of Buckingham Properties: The Tower at Midtown offers five floors of modern commercial office space in the heart of downtown Rochester. Underground parking with direct access into the building makes The Tower a dream location for downtown employees. Upper floors of the mixed-use building are home to 182 trendy apartments featuring polished concrete floors, open floor plans, and roof decks with stunning city views. The Tower Apartments will be pet-friendly, with plans for a dog park and wash station. Floor plans feature plentiful common areas for social gatherings. The redevelopment project is a 50/50 joint venture of Buckingham Properties and Morgan Management. Construction of the 357,000 square foot structure is projected to begin in 2013 with completion expected in 2014. Additional information on the latest plans can be found here: http://www.thetoweratmidtown.com. Photographs taken inside the skeleton of the tower in February 2014
Edmund Lyon Park is a park located in central East Rochester. It features a baseball field, basketball court, and a playground. The park was named for Edmund Lyon, an inventor, teacher and philanthropist. The park features a World War I monument, which was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1930.1 See Also: Wikimapia
Location: Main office Catholic Charities Community Services 1099 Jay Street, Building J Rochester, NY 14611 P: (585) 339-9800 F: (585) 339-9377 Regional Office One Keuka Business Park Penn Yan, NY 14527-8995 P: (315) 536-2370 F: (315) 536-2451 Website: https://www.cccsrochester.org Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS), in conjunction with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester and those we serve, is deeply committed to enhancing and strengthening the independence, inclusion, and individuality of persons with disabilities and those who are living with significant health challenges. We provide services that support, coordinate, advocate, and educate in order to foster individual and community empowerment. We strive to build a just and compassionate society for all individuals to live with dignity as people of God. All services are provided to all people without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability, gender or ability to pay. For a full list and description of our various services, please visit our website. Big Events The 22nd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament is July 23, 2018 at the Country Club of Rochester. Our 8th Annual Breakfast with Friends will be held on March 29th, 2019 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. To learn more, please visit our website.
Clover Street is a long suburban road that, traveling north to south, passes through Brighton, Pittsford, West Henrietta, and Honeoye Falls. It is notable for forming the border between Pittsford and Brighton, especially at East and Monroe Avenues. In Pittsford and Honeoye Falls it is also Route 65. Clover boasts many beautiful older homes, including the unique Alcoa House. It makes for a scenic drive/bike ride any time of the year. Traveling south, important intersections are: Blossom Road Interstate 490 (Note that Clover is briefly disrupted by railroad tracks north of 490 but shortly resumes.) East Avenue Highland Avenue Penfield Road Elmwood Avenue Monroe Avenue French Road West Jefferson Road Calkins Road Interstate 90 The Lehigh Valley Trail also intersects with Clover. Though never actually within city limits, Clover Street is broadly defined as "Clover Street, Rochester," with many locations having a Rochester address due to Monroe County's peculiar zip code system.
Embeddable Google Satellite Image The Mushroom House (the owners prefer the name "Pod House") is a private home at 142 Park Road in Perinton near Powder Mills Park south of Bushnell's Basin. A complete description appeared in the Town of Perinton Designated Landmarks and Districts May 9, 1989 Application (PDF 1.27MB). "Handing Robert and Marguerite Antell a stem of Queen Anne’s Lace, and holding one himself, and having the three flowers touch, architect James Johnson said, “ There is your house.” This was the genesis of what became popularly known as the “Mushroom House,” Originally built for Robert and Marguerite Antell on property they purchased in 1969 and sold it in 1996. The new owners did extensive redecoration. In 1999 it returned to the Antell family when "it was purchased by Steven and Christine Whitman. Steven is the son of Marguerite Antell’s cousin." See also: Mushroom House on Wikipedia Mushroom House from book "Weird New York" on Google Books, has photos and information. Cool Houses Featured on "Offbeat America" Episode HOBA-204 Rochester Archipedia Flickr Photo all rights reserved WayMarking.com Listing GoogleEarhHacks Wikimapia Photos
Former Nathan's Soup & Salad location at Park Ave." Photo by Ben Margolis (April 2007) Nathan's Soups - Feb 2008 at Park Ave. Nathan's is a small soup and salad place with three locations in the Rochester area. The original was on Park Avenue in the city. The other two are in Henrietta: one at the Genesee Valley Regional Market (opened in 2011) and another in the Alumni Student Union at RIT. The Park Avenue location closed on January 26, 2018 as the owners focus on expanding on wholesale production and selling soup to different establishments and restaurants. The menu changes quite frequently, and they make all of their soups and salads in-house. The Park Avenue interior underwent an extensive renovation in 2013.
Lake Shore is a semi-private golf course on the North side of Rochester, near Charlotte. Lake Shore opened in 1932, and in 2001 was purchased by a partnership including PGA Pro golfers Jeff Sluman and Dudley Hart. In recent years the course and clubhouse have been improved. They operate a restaurant on Friday evenings, which is open for catered events at other times. Lake Shore also operates a 9-hole executive course, Shore Acres, across the street.
View with Broad, Chestnut and Court Street Roundabout Project construction (July 2012) The Manhattan Square Park Neighborhood refers to the area surrounding Manhattan Square Park. With both the park and the Strong National Museum of Play within its borders, as well as its proximity to the East End, the neighborhood places an emphasis on recreation. The Strong Museum also provides most of the neighborhood's restaurants and shopping opportunities. The HSBC Building is located here. As of July 2012 the busy intersection of Broad Street, Chestnut Street, and Court Street is the site of a $5.5 million construction project that promises not only a traffic roundabouts but also trees, lighting, and sidewalks. Establishments First Niagara Bank Manhattan News and Groceries Manhattan Square Tennis Club REOC B-Stro Skyliner Diner Strong National Museum of Play Sweet Dawn Cafe
(Nov. 2013) Persimmon Park is a park operated by the Town of Brighton on the southwest corner of Highland Avenue and South Clinton Avenue, just south of Pinnacle Hill. Access is primarily on foot but there are a couple of parking spots on Eldridge Avenue and parking is allowed on nearby residential streets (but not Clinton or Highland). The park is so-named because of the beautiful persimmon trees growing there. This is primarily a passive park meant for the enjoyment of nature, and is popular with residents in nearby apartment complexes. This park was created on land that had been originally acquired by the State for the Genesee Expressway project that would have connected Interstate 390 directly with downtown Rochester. Part of the property had historic homes on it and there are still some foundation remnants visible among the woods. Facilities include: Small mowed lawn area with benches amidst the woods
Genesee Crossroads Park, also known as Charles Carroll Park, is a relatively small urban park located in the Convention District along the west side of the Genesee River, between Main Street and Andrews Street. It is behind the Holiday Inn and basically on top of the Genesee Crossroads Parking Garage. The Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge crosses the river in the middle of the park. Benches and picnic areas are available and are popular with office workers at lunchtime in the summer months. The park is located approximately where the notorious old Front Street was located before the days of urban renewal. There is also a sculptural installation by Richard Fleischner called "Rochester Project" that was dedicated in October 1986. Redevelopment In December 2013 it was announced that the City had offered Genesee Crossroads Park as the new site of the proposed Roc City Skatepark. Once completed, it will be the largest skatepark in the country. If successful, it could inspire the creation of other, smaller skateparks throughout the city.1
About Empire Boulevard: Empire Boulevard is part of an old travelway between Rochester and Webster which has been overtaken by Route 104. It gives a street name to Route 404 from its terminus in Irondequoit until Route 404 becomes Ridge Road in Webster. The route also serves as a portion of the Seaway Trail and becomes a temporary major artery when traffic or weather conditions block the Irondequoit Bay Bridge (Route 104). Some important streets along the way (traveling east to west) are Gravel Road, Bay Road, Plank Road, North Winton Road, and Route 590. Attractions and Businesses Parks & Recreation: Empire Park, Ellison Park - (waterway bay outlet), Abraham Lincoln Park (formerly Irondequoit Bay Park East), McAvoy Park, Southpoint Marina Restaurants: - Applebee's, Bar-Bill Tavern, Bay Front Restaurant, Bento-Ya, Billy's Homestead, Boulevard Grill, Charlie Riedel's, DiBella's, Empire Hots, Guida's Pizzeria, Joe's Brooklyn Pizza, La Bella Vita, Maa's Diner, Midnight Smokin' BBQ, Nutcracker Family Restaurant, The Peppered Pig, Pizza Hut, Pontillo's, Royal Dynasty, South Bay Bar & Grill, and Tim Hortons Other: Agway, AMC Loews Webster, AMF Empire Lanes, Atlas Music, Baytowne Plaza, Delta Sonic, Eastway Liquor, Goodwill Stores, Home Outlet, K2 Bros Brewing, Play It Again Sports, Wegmans
Lunsford Circle Park is a Rochester park located in the Corn Hill neighborhood. It is named after an early prominent African-American physician. The park is shaded by beautiful mature trees and has a gazebo that is utilized for various musical concerts. During the Corn Hill Arts Festival this park is a center of activity. Notes and References
Wikimedia Commons Feb 2010, BradMandell The Fairport Erie Canal Liftbridge, a bridge located over the Erie Canal on Main Street in Fairport, is an engineering marvel: "Did you know it's the only bridge in the world built on a bias? The south end is higher than the north end. Plus, it's an irregular decagon. No two angles in the bridge are the same. No corners on the bridge floor are square, earning it a place in "Ripley's believe it or not" 16 times." 1 Information and Photo References Fairport Lift Bridge from Fairport Village Partnership Images of the Fairport Lift Bridge on ErieCanal.org is an excellent collection of historic and recent photos. Satellite View and Info on Wikimapia.org with pictures and information Fairport Lift Bridge on Waymarking.org Fairport Lift Bridge and Colonial Belle Movie - a 9mb zipped video on RocPic.com Photos
Fourth Street and Peck Street Park is a small Rochester park in the Marketview Heights neighborhood. The park includes some greenspace, a playground and half a basketball court. In the Summer a "spray park" operates here to keep the neighborhood children cool. Notes and References
Hojack Swing Bridge - Larger View BradMandell The Hojack Swing Bridge used to sit in the center of the Genesee River near Lake Ontario where it originally was used to transport trains across the river. The bridge was built by the King Bridge Company (see references) for the New York Central Railroad in 1905, replacing a previous bridge. It served part of a rail line known as the Hojack Line - which ran from Niagara Falls to Oswego. After traffic on the rail line ceased, remnants of the shore connections fell into disrepair. The bridge itself sat in a permanent open position and suffered from lack of care or preservation. About 2010 the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers began serious efforts to have the bridge removed to improve the harbor and remove a potential hazard to navigation. The bridge and its foundation were finally removed in late 2012. Efforts to Save the Hojack Bridge There was an active movement to save and preserve the Hojack Bridge and turn what some considered an obstacle and eyesore into an attractive part of the Rochester scene. This is detailed in the following: TheBridgeProject Webpage See * Google Maps Satellite Image of Former Site See also: Lake Shore Boulevard - Seaway Trail - for area attractions Railroad - for more information about the rail lines. Ontario Beach Park - for a nearby attraction Patrick O'Rorke Bridge - a view of the former bridge site Photos Early 1900's photo of the bridge on Fineartamerica website - Hojack Photo in Ontario Beach and Charlotte Area Set on Flickr by BradMandell Hojack Bridge on Flikr - some nice shots, and you can link to them. Ed Finucane Photos on King Bridge website 1960's Photos of Rochester Rail includes a shot of the bridge in action HMS Photography Slides Richard Margolis Bridge Photos References and Related Sites King Bridge History Website, see also their Upstate NY Page Rochester Beat - Hojack Bridge Virtual Globetrotter bridges Google Sightseeing Hojack Line Hojack Story on WebsterTrails.org Abandoned Roads - The Hojack Line
Rochester's ship sailed twice daily during peak season. The Basics In 2004 the fast ferry, nicknamed The Breeze, began daily service between the ports of Toronto and Rochester. In September 2004 the ferry abruptly stop running when it became public that the ferry's operating company (Canadian American Transportation Systems) owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel fees and did not have the funds to pay for it. The city of Rochester, having already invested millions of dollars into the project, bought the ferry from its other investors during a foreclosure auction in Febuary 2005. The ferry resumed service on June 30, 2005 as The Cat, managed by Bay Ferries Great Lakes Limited. The ferry featured two movie theater rooms, a restaurant, two bars, wireless internet access, duty free shopping, and a children's play area. Fares start at $29 for an off-peak one-way walk-on ticket, plus a $5 passenger annoyance fee. A summer walk-on round trip was $74/person, which is quite competitive compared to Amtrak or Greyhound. In January 2006, newly elected mayor, Bob Duffy cancelled city support for the ferry. Despite the fact that the Ferry service was not designed to make a profit in the first 2-3 years, in the first year of operation the Ferry racked up much more debt than expected, and problems with mis-managment by Canadian American Transportation Systems undermined support for the project. The Ferry was sold to a UK company May 3, 2006 for $29.8 million. When it was running during the peak summer months the ferry left Rochester at 8am and 3:30pm, and left Toronto at 11:30am and 7pm, six days a week. On Tuesdays, the ferry made one round trip, leaving Rochester at 8am and Toronto at 7pm. The Boat The Atrium aboard the vessel. Persons caught going up the steps to the Business Class area without authorization best know how to swim.The boat itself is massive: it is 284 feet in length, 78 feet wide, and as tall as a five story building. It can hold 750 passengers, 220 cars, and 10 buses or trucks. Spirit of Ontario I (her official name) has a top speed of 55 miles per hour. The port to port travel time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The Rochester ferry terminal is located near Ontario Beach Park at 1000 N River St. It is easily accessable by going north from the eastern terminus of the Lake Ontario State Parkway. It's serviced by bus route 1 (Lake Avenue). If last year is an indication, the bus schedule will be almost (but not entirely) incompatible with the ferry schedule. The terminal has an assortment of quick-service restaurants such as Quizno's, Cheeburger Cheeburger, California Rollin', the Nutty Bavarian, a coffee shop and Abbott's. Across from the terminal is LDR Char Pit and Nola's BBQ. The Toronto ferry terminal is located at approximately 1 Unwin Avenue, at the south end of Cherry Street. You can get there via TTC bus 172 (Cherry Street), from Union Station. If you're driving or walking, there is a Loblaw's grocery store at 10 Lower Jarvis St, which was a good place to pick up water, food, or coffee for the ferry trip to Rochester. Before it was closed From the canadian terminal walking into Toronto takes about an hour (to/from the end of Yonge Street) and isn't really that interesting. TTC fare is $2.50; be sure to get a transfer when you get on the bus. The $8 Day Pass was a good option as well, especially if you were travelling with another adult and/or a packet of children on weekends or holidays. More information is available on the ferry schedule page. See Also: How To Get To Rochester External Links: The city's fast ferry page Online ferry booking (or call 1-877-283-7327) Ferry Bad Place Article Nice photo tour of the ferry ride: http://www.therefrigerator.net/features/ferry/ferry01.html My favorite Ferry page! Buy a "rare" ferry schedule on eBay The Aftermath Following the collapse of the ferry service and its subsequent sale, the New York State Comptroller's Office audited the ferry and its finances (by request of Assemblymen Brian Kolb and Joseph Errigo). The audit report was issued July 27 (full text here in PDF). The report is sharply critical of the handling of the ferry, accusing the city of ignoring warning signs from the beginning and inadequately protecting the city from financial problems. In order to avoid being docked all winter in Rochester, the ferry left the terminal during the evening of December 21, 2006 to beat the closing of the St. Lawrence Sea Way. The ship will be dry docked in Nova Scotia to repair yet another crack in the hull and wait for the sale to EuroFerries to be completed. Recently, the ferry terminal building on the Canadian site was used as the location of a new CBC detective series called "The Border" (starts Jan 7th, 2008).http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/286468
Dragonslayer is a sculpture by Jim Gary located at 150 Canal View Park, Canal View Blvd, Rochester, NY . The sculpture portrays a dinosaur with a dragonfly in its mouth, and is made completely of steel scrap from junk car parts. Gary "is the only living sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C..." and is noted for his dinosaurs. See photo and details on RochesterPublicArt.com Article on Jim Gary's death on WashingtonPost.com