City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, April 26, 2013) – The Greater Rochester Arbor Day Committee hosted the 30th annual Arbor Day Celebration today at Jones Square Park in the city’s Northwest today. Deputy Mayor Leonard Redon and City Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Paul Holahan were joined by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and area students in the day’s activities which commemorated Arbor Day, the 125th anniversary of the Rochester Parks Commission and the birthday of renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
The Greater Rochester Arbor Day Committee is comprised of members from the City, Monroe County, the Gardenscape Professionals Association, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Associates and Meadowview Nursery. Students were recognized for their participation in an Arbor Day Poster competition sponsored by the Gardenscape Professionals Association and attendees were given posters and bookmarks.
The City will continue its commemoration of the anniversary of the Parks Commission--now comprised of the City and County Parks Departments--with several garden enhancement projects around the city. Starting with the tree planting today at Jones Square Park, the City will complete enhancement projects at three existing gardens in the following parks as part of its Clean Sweep activities:
- 9:15 a.m., Saturday, May 4 at Cobbs Hill Park (near Lake Riley Lodge)
- 9:15 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at Genesee Valley Park, 131 Elmwood Ave.
- 9:15 a.m., Saturday, May 18 at Durand Eastman Park (beach area)
Each of these parks, along with Jones Square Park were either designed or influenced by Frederick Law Olmsted. Signs marking the 125th anniversary of the Rochester Parks Commission will be installed at each of the gardens.
Long known as the “Flower City” for its leadership in nursery and horticulture endeavors and designated for 32 consecutive years as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation, Rochester’s park system preserves this distinction in its unique scenic beauty and grandeur of the Genesee River valley through the heart of the community.
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News Media: For more information contact Commissioner Paul Holahan at 428-6855.