Highland Park

450 Highland Ave 14620  map  Lilac Festival buggy ride, Highland Park.
(585) 256-4950

Use the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority's Google Trip Planner to get a bus to this Park

Lilacs and More

Highland Park rests in a beautiful setting of hills and valleys created from glacial deposits. Best known as the home of Rochester's famous Lilac Festival, Highland Park has a history as colorful as its 500 varieties of flowering shrubs. The Lilac Festival, held in May each year, draws visitors from all over the world to see Highland Park's collection of lilacs in full bloom.

While located in the City of Rochester's southeast quadrant, Monroe County Parks maintains Highland Park and is in charge of reserving amenities, festivals, and summer theatre series. View Monroe County's Highland Park page >>

Olmsted-designed

Expertly designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to seem like a natural occurrence of trees, shrubs and flowers, Highland Park is actually a completely planned--and planted--arboretum or "tree garden." Learn more about Rochester's other Olmsted-designed parks  

In addition to over 1200 lilac shrubs, the park boasts a Japanese Maple collection, 35 varieties of sweet-smelling magnolias, a barberry collection, a rock garden with dwarf evergreens, 700 varieties of rhododendron, azaleas, mountain laurel and andromeda, horse chestnuts, spring bulbs and wildflowers and a large number of exotic trees. The park's pansy bed features 10,000 plants, designed into an oval floral "carpet" with a new pattern each year. An iris garden given as a gift from sister city Hamamatsu, Japan, adds to the impressive landscape.

At the park, visitors also find the Lamberton Conservatory, historic Warner Castle, John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion (Highland Park Bowl) and the Arches Pavilion.Highland Reservoir

Park Facilities, Attractions, and Amenities

  • Hiking Paths, Benches, Picnic Areas
  • The Lamberton Conservatory, the recent recipient of a historical restoration award, houses exhibits that change up to five times a year and feature seasonal floral displays that might not otherwise survive Rochester's temperate climate.
  • Greater Rochester Vietnam Memorial commemorates the service, valor, and sacrifice of more than 28,000 Vietnam Veterans from our county region as well as the 280 men who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
  • Warner Castle, a historic castle in the heart of the park that has become a favorite spot for wedding photos, boasts the Sunken Gardens, a Shady Border, Rock Garden, Courtyard Garden, Iris and Daylily Bed, Old-Fashioned Rose Bed, Miniature Rose Bed, Fern Bed and a 13th Century Herb Garden.
  • John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion (Highland Bowl) includes an outdoor amphitheater that is used for summertime concerts and film series. The pavilion is also available for rent by organizations and individuals.

For more information on Highland Park events or to reserve a spot for wedding photos, visit the Monroe County site >>