In an underutilized corner of Rochester, at the intersection of the city’s industrial history, rich ecology and divided neighborhoods, the plans for a new state park at High Falls are grinding toward fruition.
There hasn’t been public access to the gorge at High Falls in years, which starts near Genesee Brewery and runs north, though that’s set to change when the proposed state park opens. The location is the heavy appeal for the state park — which would nestle into the city’s downtown.
The 40-acre park is set to open its first phase within the next few years, bringing access to the gorge floor, historical markers and outdoor recreational areas.
The state emphasizes ecology, equity and connectivity as part of the park’s objectives. It’s meant to bring programming for families and connect neighborhoods on either side of the Genesee, Edgerton and El Camino. A framework plan is already in the works and site remediation is underway on some former industrial sites in the state park’s future footprint. Conceptual drawings in 2022 show bridges, trails, pavilions and more on the available space in the gorge.
The park would extend three-quarters of a mile north of High Falls along the Genesee River gorge. It would occupy land that’s been off limits for years due to former industrial uses, including as the onetime city of Rochester incinerator site. If the whole thing is re-developed into a state park that draws regional tourism, the impact on the city is likely to be felt in many ways.
Where would the new High Falls State Park be?
The view from the 858-foot Pont de Rennes bridge shows the potential of this scenic area. The bridge, built in 1891, recently got structural steel repairs, a new deck and railing and landscaping.
When I took a trip there on an early September morning with staff photographer Tina MacIntyre-Yee, we were surprised by all of the activity we saw.
In addition to people crossing the chasm along the bridge, the remediated former industrial site on the west banks of the Genesee River played host to some field and woodland staples in western New York. A pair of deer nibbled at grass on the freshly seeded land before crossing the asphalt access road and disappearing without a whisper into the tall grass on the gorge side of the parcel.
Emerging from the same thicket comes a couple turkeys, followed by several juvenile jakes and jennies. They wander toward the edge of the Genesee River, where a chainlink fence blocks access. The blend of manmade space and nature highlights the future of the state park: a wild oasis in the center of the city.
The Genesee River at High Falls is full of life. An osprey wings overhead, slowing into a stall several times over the water and flying past the Genesee Brewery perched high above the gorge. Down below, an egret and several great blue herons scout for fish and a flock of gulls circles the rock cliffs.
What parts of the coming High Falls park are open now?
About 40 acres of the area surrounding High Falls will be part of the park. While most of the area is inaccessible, we entered the gorge at Maplewood Park, in part to make the images you see in today’s Sunday newspaper. The walk to the river’s edge highlighted the difficulty in getting there — the trail, or what passed for one, was steep.
The park itself has seen better days.
The paths and structures were in disrepair and there was trash littered throughout. Blankets, wrappers, food packaging, a broken charcoal barbecue grill. A few tents were set up out of sight of the main park, where maintenance is kept up to date.
The hike down isn’t well marked, so we had several fits and starts, including first crossing too far up the embankment to a washed-out section. Once we found an acceptable means of making our way down, a rocky river shore awaited. Across the stream, a fisherman was starting his day early.
We traipsed our way toward Lower Falls along a variable route, sometimes stepping between rocks, sometimes on a narrow deer path. The walk highlights the steepness of the gorge, with only a peek here and there of buildings high above at street level, though the noise of passing cars never goes away.
The future state park should provide similar feelings of untamed spaces with urban access.
Do Rochesterians know about High Falls State Park?
There have been multiple meeting sessions at Edgerton R-Center about the plans for High Falls. But have these sessions made an impression? Maria Suarez, a rec center employee, said that she could only recall one meeting being about High Falls’ transition into a state park. From what she could remember, there were not many people in attendance.
Suarez expressed concern for the unhoused people who have set up tents in the falls. She explained that the transition to a future state park is displacing people from the land and onto Edgerton’s premises — where she frequently comes across their camps.
“Wherever they’re pushing them off from, they’re coming here,” Suarez said. “You can’t keep pushing them.”
Don Fess, a Penfield resident, first heard about the initiative on the news. Fess believes the state park project likely won’t affect his neighborhood, as he lives in the suburbs, but could have a major positive impact on Downtown Rochester.
“Right now, it’s desolate and beat down — having it turned into a decent park would be very beneficial,” Fess said. “[It would be] a place to come and relax. We just went to the Brewhouse there and had lunch. It’d be nice to be able to go down there, sit and do whatever.”
Fess feels the area will become much cleaner once transformed but emphasized the need for patrolling to ensure safety.
Some Rochester residents taking a stroll through lower falls, however, had no idea that the park they were standing in would-be a state park. Nelsa Roman and Christina Broadnax, who found out about the state park during an interview with the Democrat and Chronicle, said that they hoped the park will have activities that cater to the youth.
Stephany Diaz, a new Rochester resident who lives 10 minutes from Lower Falls, hopes that the state park is safer and cleaner than the park is currently. “There are needles on the ground. I don’t want [my kids] to see that,” she said.
What would a visit to High Falls State Park look like?
On our trip, being level with Lower Falls was already worth the hike when the falls came into view. While High Falls is more easily visible from far away, it’s hard to not imagine the impressive sight of the 80-foot-tall falls overheard.
The journey also took us to the High Falls overlook off Smith Street and an offshoot path, barricaded to vehicle traffic. The other path, which wound through the woods toward Falls Street, was littered with heavy amounts of trash.
How the High Falls district will change with the presence of a state park is yet to be known, but the state has promised around-the-clock police presence. Foot traffic in the area is expected to increase; the park will have free entry.
Will it bring more business — restaurants and shops — to the area? Will it drive up property values? Will areas neglected for clean-up receive the attention they need? A lot is set to unfold in the next few years in this special part of the city.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
— Justice Marbury and Misha Oberoi contributed reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New NY state park coming to Rochester’s famous falls. What’s planned
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