Roc the Riverway,
September 30- October 2, 2022
The Genesee River
is the lifeblood of the Greater Rochester Region. From the abundant farms of
the Genesee Valley to the industrial heritage of the City, the Genesee River
has defined who we are and how our community developed.
In 2018 the City
along with our partners at the State of New York, launched an ambitious 500
Million dollar initiative to truly release the full potential of our river. Roc
the River Way is a series of projects which celebrate the past and build for
the future. They will transform this former industrial waterway into a
community recreational corridor that provides opportunities for all to interact
with water. Celebrate this transformation with us! Come out, experience a
weekend of activities and learn more about our community’s vision for the
future.
To view and
register for this year’s Roc the Riverway events, visit https://accounts.cityofrochester.gov.
FRIDAY, September
30th
6 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
Fall Salmon Run
Daily until November for anglers and spectators. Seth Green Dr. and Norton St.
off St. Paul Blvd. This section of the Genesee River offers some of the most
exciting fishing in New York State- right in the city.
4:00 and 5:00
p.m.: Insider Walk to High Falls. Genesee River Alliance members,
Greentopia and Tour Blend have partnered with Rochester Gas & Electric to
offer this rare opportunity to walk to the base of this 96 ft. tall waterfall
in the heart of Rochester. We’ll meet at Granite Mills Park, at the west end of
the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge along Brown’s Race. The tour will
include a walk down Falls Street to the RG&E Hydroelectric Plant and the
base of the falls. Learn about the history of Brown’s Race, the operations of
RG&E’s Hydro Station, and plans for a New York State Park at High Falls.
You’ll have a chance to view concept drawings of the park, ask questions, and
share your thoughts with members of the design team.
Explore a
location you normally can’t visit, with incredible photo
opportunities! There are two walking tour times, 4 PM and 5 PM, and each
walk is approximately 1 hour long. This walk is on pavement but is mildly
strenuous due to an incline and is recommended for ages 12 and up. There
are no restrooms. Please bring a water bottle and wear appropriate
footwear (no open-toed shoes, heels, or flip flops) for safety reasons. Meet at
104 Platt St, Rochester NY 14616.
Limited on-street metered
parking or park at High Falls Garage, or take RTS bus #22 (Lake Avenue).
Contact Helen at hdumas@geneseelandtrust.org
with any questions, or go to https://www.geneseelandtrust.org/master-calendar/2022/9/30highfallsbase to learn more and
register. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
SATURDAY,
October 1
9-11 a.m.: Clean-Up at Seth Green
Park. Get
outside, get active and get involved in making Rochester a greener, cleaner
City! The City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Human Services is
partnering with the Seneca Park Zoo Society to sponsor a series of ‘park
clean-up events’ along the Genesee Riverway Trail. Tools and gloves will be
provided. Please dress for the weather and bring water to stay hydrated. Meet
at the Seth Green parking lot.
10
a.m.-12 p.m.: Sturgeon Release in the Genesee River. Join the United
States Geological Survey for a Sturgeon release at Seth Green Park by Lower
Falls. Learn about the 16 years of successful sturgeon reintroduction, spray
paint stenciled sturgeon awareness signage in multiple languages, be joined by
“Seth” our 6 foot fiberglass sturgeon mascot and observe staff measure weight,
length, girth and tag data. Attendees
may participate in release of hatchery reared sturgeon into the lower Genesee
River.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Tours of the Lower Falls and Gorge. Join docents
from the Maplewood Neighborhood Association and learn about the five bridges
over the gorge, the rivalry between Carthage and Rochester and the river’s
transformation from a place of industry to recreation. Tours are about 45
minutes long with the last tour starting around 1 p.m. Meet at the Maplewood
Rose Garden Parking Lot.
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: Guided Walk on the North Terrace of the
Rundel Memorial Library. Located
on the bank of the Genesee River in the heart of downtown Rochester, the north
terrace of the Central Library's Rundel Memorial Building is a vibrant public
space that celebrates the city’s connection to the river and the legacy of
growth and innovation that has sprung from it. Join Deputy City Historian
Michelle Finn on a walking tour exploring the newly renovated site and the
layers of history it contains!
10 a.m.-5 p.m. On
exhibit: Welcome Home: Celebrating Rochester’s Immigrants.
Local
History Exhibits Hall, 2nd floor, Rundel Memorial Library Building, 115
South Avenue.
Visit the Rundel library building to
see the current local history exhibit showcasing the countless ways, big and
small, in which foreign-born residents have made an impact on the city’s
establishment, development, and identity. Welcome Home: Celebrating
Rochester's Immigrants marks
a partnership between the library's Local History & Genealogy Division and
a host of individuals and local ethnic organizations who provided materials to
help create a diverse visual narrative of Rochester’s multicultural past and
present.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Mount Hope Cemetery: Mischief,
Murder & Mayhem. Join
the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery to meet some permanent residents who bent,
broke, or enforced the law, or whose lives met an unfortunate or grisly end.
Meet at the North Gate House: 791 Mount Hope Avenue (opposite Robinson Dr).
12 - 4 p.m.: Autumn at the Lake. Spend a Saturday
at the beach. Come enjoy the beauty of the Lake and the Port in the fall. Enjoy the bluegrass energy and sounds of the
band, HeatWave, take a horse drawn hay ride around Ontario Beach Park, decorate
and take home pumpkins (fee), ride the carousel or enjoy fresh made donuts,
cider and other treat from Duke’s Donuts. You can also join a guided bike tour
of the port and beach at 2 pm or partake in a self-guided, audio tour through
the park, a stroll on the pier or along the “secret sidewalk. Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse will also be
open for tours and local businesses will feature specials for your enjoyment. Event presented by the Ontario Beach
Park Program Committee. More info call 585-865-3320.
1
- 5 p.m.: Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse Tours. Tour the oldest surviving aid to navigation lighthouse on Lake Ontario
(1822); climb the Octagonal Tower to see the new 4th order Fresnel lens and a
great panorama view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding area. In the Keeper’s
House, view the history of Lighthouses in the area, display of Ontario Beach
Park from the 1870s to 1920s, a new display on Women’s rights, a stove that
washes clothes, the lockups of Charlotte & more. Outside take a walk
through the War of 1812 International Peace Garden. Admission $5.00 (18 years
& older); $2.00 (5-17 years old), and FREE (4 and under). Open Fri., Sat.,
& Sun. For further information call 585-621-6179 or visit www.geneseelighthouse.org.
2 - 3:30 p.m.: Washington Square
Historical Walk. Join historian and Library
Assistant Emily Morry for a .83-mile walking tour of the Washington Square
neighborhood. This tour will depart from the Rundel Memorial Library Building
and will showcase the history of the surrounding neighborhood as a hub of
industry, transportation, culture, and reinvention, including recent ROC the
Riverway developments.
SUNDAY,
October 2
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Guided Paddle Along
the Genesee from Seth Green Island.
Join Genesee RiverWatch and the Genesee Waterways Center in celebrating ROC the
Riverway Weekend with an educational paddle along the Genesee River. Experience
the solitude of our "Wilderness in a city" between Turning Point and
Lower Falls – an unspoiled area where you will forget that you are in the midst
of an urban metropolis. Paddle trips are $25.00 per person. All children under
18 must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required. Call 328-3960 or visit https://www.geneseewaterways.org/events-registration to register. Meet in the Petten St. parking lot for shuttle
to Seth Green.
1:00
p.m. and 3:00 p.m.: ROC the Riverway Guided Bike Rides. Experience all the progress on ROC the Riverway projects
up close and on two wheels! Meet on the Broad Street Bridge and travel along
the Genesee Riverway Trail and by street to explore the recent and future
enhancements to the riverfront. The tour will feature projects in High Falls,
Downtown, and in the South River Corridor. Helmets required.
1 - 4 p.m.: A Walk on the Erie Canal.
Head to
the Broad Street Bridge for a demonstration of A
Walk on the Erie Canal, the new Tour Blend mobile tour. This new, free mobile tour guides you along
the original route of the Erie Canal in downtown Rochester. As you walk on the old canal, you’ll see and
hear about historic photos taken more than a century ago. You can begin this tour at any time using
your smartphone, and no registration is required.
1-5
p.m.: Re-Imagine the Aqueduct on the Broad Street Bridge. Bring the whole family down to the Broad Street
Bridge and adjoining riverfront for a fun filled celebration of the
revitalization of Rochester’s Genesee River Corridor. The schedule of events on
the Broad Street Bridge include interactive displays, activities, and games,
self- guided audio tours of the historic canal corridor, public input sessions
for the Re-Imagine the Aqueduct Project, food trucks and carts, wine and craft
beer tasting, Skating in the Street, participatory chalk art installation,
walking tours, guided bike rides, and musical entertainment.
1-5
p.m.: Corn Hill Landing Boat
cruise-Board the Sam Patch for waterfront views of the recently
completed West River wall project, hear about the new Corn Hill Navigation boat
to operate next season out of the Landing, see dramatic views of the Roc from
the water. Cruises leave approximately every hour (fee).
2-4
p.m.: Kayaking at Corn Hill Landing.
The Genesee Waterways Center will have kayaks for rent at a discounted fee of
$10 per person, or free for attendees with wrist bands of the NYS Canal
Conference. This paddle offers participants an opportunity to see the Genesee
riverfront development projects up close and on the water. All children under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult. First come first served- no registration
required.
1-4
p.m.: Roc City Skatepark Tour & Demos: Bring your skateboard, scooter or BMX bike (or just walk) and check out
the new Roc City Skatepark. Representatives from the Friends of the Roc City
Skatepark will be on hand to share about the history of the park and provide
updates on the exciting plans for future phases of this urban progressive
oriented sports hot spot!
1
- 5 p.m.: Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse Tours. Tour the oldest surviving aid to navigation
lighthouse on Lake Ontario (1822); climb the Octagonal Tower to see the new 4th
order Fresnel lens and a great panorama view of Lake Ontario and the
surrounding area. In the Keeper’s House, view the history of Lighthouses in the
area, display of Ontario Beach Park from the 1870s to 1920s, a new display on
Women’s rights, a stove that washes clothes, the lockups of Charlotte &
more. Outside take a walk through the War of 1812 International Peace
Garden. Admission $5.00 (18 years & older); $2.00 (5-17 years old), and
FREE (4 and under). Open Fri., Sat., & Sun. For further information
call 585-621-6179 or visit www.geneseelighthouse.org.
2-3:30
p.m.: Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour. This foundational tour is a
two-hour walk of approximately a mile on both paved roads and uneven terrain.
This includes the graves of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, topics of
local history, horticulture, geology, architecture, monument symbolism, and
more. Tickets are $12 per person at the door, free for members, SNAP
recipients, and children under 16 who are accompanied by a paying adult. Meet
at the North Gatehouse at 791 Mount Hope Ave, opposite Robinson Drive. NOTE:
Tours are not always kept to paved paths. We recommend comfortable walking
shoes, not open sandals.
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
