Explore nature and the city’s
amazing historic parks and neighborhoods by bike, on foot or in canoes by
participating in Tuesday night bike rides, Thursday night nature and history
walks, monthly guided paddles and Zumba in the park! Walks and rides are
leisurely with slight grade changes, mostly on paths or sidewalks.
TUESDAY NIGHT BIKE RIDES
Tuesdays, May 1, 2018 through
August 28, 2018
All rides start promptly at
6:00p.m., please arrive by 5:45 p.m. for ride safety tips.
Helmets are REQUIRED for all
participants.
For more information, please
email Stephanie Benway at: stephanie.benway@cityofrochester.gov.
Explore the city’s natural
and built environments – rides highlight neighborhoods, city landmarks, natural
wonders and the rich history of our great city. Cancellations due to weather
will be made at start time on the site of the ride.
High Falls Neighborhood: June
4. Meet at the Pont de Rennes
Bridge, at the Centers at High Falls. Ride through the High Falls area. A
10 mile ride on flat terrain, city roads and paved trail.
Genesee Valley Park
Neighborhood: June 11. Meet at
the Genesee Valley Park pool parking lot, 131 Elmwood Avenue. Bike on the Erie
Canal, Genesee Riverway. A 12.5 mile ride on flat terrain, paved and
unpaved trails.
South Wedge Neighborhood: June
18. Meet at the Genesee Valley Park
pool parking lot, 131 Elmwood Avenue. Bike on the Genesee Riverway Trial
through the South Wedge. An 11 mile ride on paved trail and City roads.
Durand Eastman and Seabreeze:
June 25. Meet at the Summerville
Genesee River parking lot at the end of St. Paul Blvd. Ride through Durand
Eastman Park and the Seabreeze Neighborhood. A 10.5 mile ride which includes
paved roads.
Seneca and Turning Point
Parks: July 2. Meet at Seneca
Park Zoo parking lot. Cross over to the west side of the Genesee River to ride
north to the Port of Rochester. A 12 mile ride on a paved trail with a few
moderate hills.
University Ave. Neighborhood
of the Arts: July 16. Begin at
the Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union Street. Ride along University Ave. A
10 mile ride on flat terrain, city roads.
Charlotte Neighborhood and
Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail: July 23. Meet at the Abbott’s Charlotte parking lot by Estes
Street. Ride along Edgemere Drive and walk along the Lake Ontario beach front.
A 13.6 mile ride on paved trails and roads.
Erie Canal to Pittsford: July
30. Meet at the Genesee Valley Park
pool parking lot, 131 Elmwood Ave. Bike on the Genesee Riverway Trial and
explore the Corn Hill neighborhood. A 10 mile ride on paved trail and City
roads.
Park Avenue Neighborhood: August
6. Meet at the University Avenue Business
Center, 1044 University Avenue. Ride along East Ave and Brighton Cobbs Hill
Neighborhood. A 10 mile ride on City roads
Corn Hill Neighborhood: August
13. Meet at the Genesee Valley Park
pool parking lot, 131 Elmwood Avenue. Bike on the Genesee Riverway Trial and
explore the Corn Hill neighborhood. A 10 mile ride on paved trail and City
roads.
Maplewood Neighborhood: August
20. Meet at the Rose Garden parking
lot, Lake Ave. & Driving Park Avenue. Ride on the Genesee Riverway Trail
through Seneca Park. A 9 mile ride on a paved trail and City roads with a few
moderate hills.
Erie Canal Genesee Valley
Park to Brighton Town Park: August 27. Meet at the Genesee Valley Park pool parking lot 131
Elmwood Avenue. Bike on the Genesee Riverway Trail and the Erie Canal Trail
east to Brighton Town Park. A 8.5 mile ride on paved trails.
THURSDAY NIGHT HISTORY
& NATURE WALKS
Thursdays, June 6 through
August 22, 2019
Thursday Evening Walks will
highlight the historical and natural wonders of the City of Rochester.
Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Wear comfortable footwear.
Neighborhood of the Arts.
June 6, 6 p.m. Meet outside Starry Nites
coffee shop at 696 University Avenue. The thriving Neighborhood of the Arts
(NOTA), whose tag line is ‘Home is Where the Art Is,’ has transformed into a
vibrant neighborhood over the past decade. Take a walk with the
Neighborhood of the Arts Association’s Evan Lowenstein and be immersed in the
past, present and future of this energetic and eclectic area of the City.
Downtown Rochester. June 13,
6 p.m. Meet at Midtown Commons, corner
of Elm and Cortland. From the redevelopment of Midtown to the Inner Loop
Transformation, Downtown Rochester has seen a lot of changes in the past
decade. The coming years will bring even more. Take a stroll with City of
Rochester Senior Planner/Urban Design Specialist Jason Haremza to see some of
these recent changes, learn more about the city’s vision for “lively streets”,
and experience the renewed energy downtown.
Corn Hill. June 20, 6 p.m. Where did our city’s founder Nathaniel Rochester live?
Who put the statue of Mercury into our skyline? Where did a couple of teenage
girls once talk to the dead? Where did Frederick Douglass first publish his
historic newspaper, The North Star? It all happened in the Third Ward, now
known as Corn Hill. Join historian Jim DeVinney to hear about some of our
city’s most colorful and historic people, places and events. Tour begins by the
Water Spirits sculpture at Corn Hill Landing where South Plymouth Avenue joins
Exchange Street. Bring water and wear good walking shoes.
Washington Grove. June 27,
6:00 p.m. Join members of the Friends of
Washington Grove to walk through the canopy of 250-year-old Oak trees and find
out about Washington Grove’s natural and cultural history, its many changes and
what the future may hold. Meet at the kiosk atop Cobbs Hill Reservoir in the
open field behind the pine grove (take the reservoir road off of Highland
Ave.).
Highland Park. July 11, 6
p.m. Meet outside of the Lamberton
Conservatory. Join Monroe County Horticulturist Susan Maney for a tour of
Highland Park - the first Olmsted designed park in Rochester. The tour
will highlight the unique and historic trees that make the park such a
horticultural gem. Parking available along Reservoir Avenue.
Downtown Heritage Trail. July 18, 6 p.m. Explore Rochester’s past
through its buildings and landmarks. Join Deputy City Historian, Michelle Finn,
for a walking tour of the Downtown Heritage Trail. The tour will begin and end
on the north side of the Rundel Memorial Building, at the corner of Broad
Street and South Avenue. This outdoor path is approximately one mile round-trip
and will take about an hour to complete. Please dress comfortably.
El Camino Trail. July 25,
6:00 p.m. Meet at Conkey
Corner Park- at the corner of Conkey and Clifford Avenue. Join the Genesee Land
Trust on a walk of El Camino, a 2.2 mile urban, multi-use trail .The Thomas R.
Frey Trail at El Camino, a rails to trail project opened in 2012, is most
notably known for its unique murals and trail markers that reflect the cultural
history of the area. Learn more at: www.myelcamino.org
Washington Grove. August 1,
6:00 p.m. Join members of the Friends of
Washington Grove to walk through the canopy of 250-year-old Oak trees and find
out about Washington Grove’s natural and cultural history, its many changes and
what the future may hold. Meet at the kiosk atop Cobbs Hill Reservoir in the
open field behind the pine grove (take the reservoir road off of Highland
Ave.).
Lower Falls Gorge. August 8,
6:00 p.m. Meet at the Maplewood Rose Garden parking lot at the
corner of Lake and Driving Park. Join Gorge Guides on a tour of both the upper
and lower falls, and learn about the history of the forgotten sites of Carthage
and McCrackenville.
Seneca Park. August 15, 6
p.m. Meet at the Wegmans Lodge parking
lot along the park road in Seneca Park. Join retired City of Rochester
Senior Landscape Architect and Olmsted Parks Alliance Chairwoman JoAnn Beck on
a tour of the Olmsted designed Seneca Park. Explore this unique 297 acre park
designed by the ‘father of landscape architecture’ Frederick Law Olmsted- and
enjoy woodland trails, wildlife along Trout Lake, and scenic views of the
Genesee River Gorge.
Washington Grove. August 22,
6 p.m. Join members of the Friends of
Washington Grove to walk through the canopy of 250-year-old Oak trees and find
out about Washington Grove’s natural and cultural history, its many changes and
what the future may hold. Meet at the kiosk atop Cobbs Hill Reservoir in the
open field behind the pine grove (take the reservoir road off of Highland
Ave.).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT ZUMBA IN
THE PARKS
The City of Rochester boasts an
array of beautiful parks and green spaces. This summer, the City of
Rochester has partnered with the Maplewood Family YMCA to offer family friendly
Zumba classes in the beautiful Maplewood Rose Garden. All classes are FREE
and open to all abilities. Exercise sessions start at 6 p.m.
Zumba @ Maplewood Rose
Garden. Meet in the Rose Garden parking
lot at Lake Avenue and Driving Park Avenue.
- July 10th
- July 31st
- August 21st
Zumba @ Cobbs Hill Park. Meet at the Lake Riley Lodge Parking lot off of Norris
Drive.
July 17th
August 7th
Zumba @ Genesee Valley Park. Meet at the GVP Sports Complex (near the swimming
pool).
Saturdays on the Water
Guided Paddles
Join us for an enjoyable and
educational row along the Genesee River! Trips will leave from Seth Green Park
and will end at the Port of Rochester- total trip will last approximately two
hours. Paddle trip is $20.00 per adult; $10.00 for youth under 18. Canoes will
be provided by the Genesee Waterways Center. Maximum two adults per
canoe. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To
register, visit the Genesee Waterways Center (GWC) website at www.geneseewaterways.org/events.
- Introduction to
Canoeing/Kayaking: Meet at Corn Hill Landing for a FREE paddling lesson. Saturday,
June 15th (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
- Paddle on the Erie
Canal: Meet at the Lock 32 parking lot and drop off at the Genesee
Waterways Center. Saturday, July 13th (9:30 a.m. – 1:00
p.m.)
- Paddle on the Genesee
from Seth Green: Meet at Petten St. parking lot and drop off at Seth Green
Island. Saturday, August 17th (9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
- Paddle on the Erie
Canal: Meet at Lock 32 parking lot and drop off at Genesee Waterways
Center. Saturday, September 21st (9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
- Paddle on the Genesee
from Seth Green: Meet at Petten St. and drop off at Seth Green Island. Saturday,
October 5th (9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)