2021 Roc the RiverWay Weekend: Engage the River that Runs through Rochester
A socially distanced, COVID appropriate, celebration of the
majestic Genesee River.
Roc the Riverway, October 1-3, 2021
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 initiative to truly release the full potential of our river. The Roc the River Way riverfront revitalization program is a series of projects that 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.
Come out, explore the river and learn more about our community’s vision for the future
Friday,
October 1st: Daily 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.
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.
Saturday, October 2nd:
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 Youth 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.: Guided Paddle Along
the Genesee from Petten Street.
Join Genesee RiverWatch and the Genesee Waterways Center in celebrating ROC the
Riverway Weekend. See the Genesee in its
fall colors from the best viewpoint in the City – the seat of your canoe or
kayak right at water level! Explore the
river's history from the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad to today's 460-foot
McKeil Spirit cement ship. Paddle along
with Great Blue Herons, egrets and (if we are lucky) eagles. 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.
Meet at the new ADA-compliant dock
at the end of Petten Street off Lake Avenue.
We will push off at 10:00AM, Sunday, September 12th and return around
1:00PM. Boat rental costs are: canoe - $50, double kayak - $50, single kayak -
$25. Maximum two adults per canoe. All children under 18 must be accompanied by
an adult. Pre-registration required at Genesee Waterways Center - Events &
Registration. (Look for "Community Paddles".) Call 585-328-3960 with questions.
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.-12 p.m.: ROC the Riverway Guided Bike Ride. PowerPoint presentations not your thing? Experience all the
progress on ROC the Riverway projects up close and on two wheels! Meet at the west
end of the Pont de Rennes Bridge at High Falls 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. Approximately 6-mile ride with stops on flat terrain,
city streets, and paved trails. Helmets required.
10 a.m.-2 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.
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Mount Hope Cemetery:
Ice Cream Tour. Join
the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery for a "novelty" tour about one of
Rochester's earliest businesses - the making and selling of ice cream and other
sundries we still enjoy. Meet at the south gate: 1133 Mount Hope Avenue,
Rochester, NY, (Opposite Distillery Restaurant).
11 a.m.-12 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).
1-3 p.m.: Tour of Charlotte High
School Campus. Meet in
the auditorium of the Leadership Academy (former Charlotte High) at 4115 Lake
Avenue for an open house and a talk on the WPA murals by Carl Peters. Learn the
story of their 1942 installation and efforts by the Class of 1945 to renovate
them. Then go upstairs with former graduates to view the CHS archives on the
5th floor. Mural note cards and books will be available to benefit the
Archives. This event is free and sponsored by the Charlotte High School
Archivist. Not recommended for children under 10.
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.: Guided Walking Tour:
Beyond Flour and Flowers: Industry in Rochester. Join staff from the Rochester
Public Library and the Office of the City Historian for a guided walking tour
focused on Rochester's industrial heritage. The tour begins at the site of a
former flour mill and ends at the site of a former seed store, representing two
of the industries that give Rochester its nicknames as the Flour City and the
Flower City. Along the way, we'll explore some of the myriad enterprises that
helped the city thrive and earn a reputation as a site of innovation. The tour
route is approximately 1.1 miles. The tour is free, but pre-registration is
encouraged: https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/8323077. Meet on the south
terrace outside the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County's Rundel
Memorial Building at the corner of South Avenue and Court Street.
2-5
p.m.: Genesee Valley Park Family Nature Walks and Nature Activities. The City of Rochester is partnering with The Cornell Cooperative
Extension to offer an exciting variety of family fun activities including: Learning
to fish and practicing ‘casting your line’ (prizes to follow with a lucky
catch!), fish trivia, making fish prints in the traditional Japanese method
called Gyotaku, and more! Open to all ages, join us to learn about how you and
your family can help take care of our environment, including the mighty Genesee
River that is the heart of our city. Parking available at the Genesee Waterways
Center, 149 Elmwood Ave.
Sunday, October 3rd:
12-1 p.m.: Family Guided Bike Ride. This is a slow, relaxing bike ride
meant for families and all aged riders with stops at the Hojack Bridge Site,
Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse, River St Railroad Station, River St Mural, Bill
Davis Overlook and the Port of Rochester Marina. Then be back to the park in time for music
and pumpkin decorating. Meet at parking
lot near Bill Grays at 12:15 on Sunday, Oct 3rd. Masks and helmets required. Limited to 15 riders. To register for the
ride contact Jim Farr at James.Farr@cityofrochester.gov. In case of inclement weather,
ride may be cancelled on site at start time of the ride.
12-3 p.m.: Autumn at the Lake, Port of
Rochester along the River. Come enjoy an afternoon of family fun in
Charlotte. Explore the many area restaurants and business and the historic
Charlotte/Genesee Lighthouse as you enjoy a free concert with the Latin jazz sounds of Mambo Kings ( 1-3p.m.). Event includes a children’s pumpkin patch, chose
a pumpkin to decorate and take home (fee) or take a glide on the 200 ft. long
riverside zip line or a leisurely hay wagon ride around Ontario Beach Park.
Demonstrations and displays by the Rochester Fire Department including their
new Fire Boat and the Coast Guard all while enjoying your favorite beverage,
food or treat from area businesses. Presented by the City and the Ontario Beach
Park Program Committee. www.Ontariobeachentertainment.org
1-2:30 p.m.: Guided Walking Tour:
Douglass, Anthony, and Beyond: Activism & Social Justice in Rochester. Join staff from the Rochester
Public Library and the Office of the City Historian for a guided walking tour
focused on Rochester's rich history of social justice activism. While the
city’s most famous agitators, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, figure
prominently, the tour also will shed light on lesser-known stories of activism
as expressed by the labor movement, the anti-draft movement, the LGBTQ+ rights
movement, and others. The tour route is approximately 1.1 miles. The tour is
free, but pre-registration is encouraged:
https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/8323113. Meet on the south terrace
outside the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County's Rundel Memorial
Building at the corner of South Avenue and Court Street.
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.
2-4
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.
2-3 p.m.: Charlotte Village Cemetery
Tour. Meet
tour guide Maureen Whalen on River St. for a guided tour of the old Village
Cemetery. Visit the final resting place of daredevil Sam Patch, Charlotte’s
first settler, a lighthouse keeper, the first doctor, its Custom Collector and
a Navy veteran of the War of 1812. Admire the restoration work done by the Navy
Seabee Veterans of America, Island X-12, to reset and repair damaged
headstones. Parking available on River St. Sponsored by the Charlotte-Genesee
Lighthouse Historical Society.
Independent Walks along the Genesee Riverway (Enjoy these self-guided tours all weekend long)
Tour Blend has partnered with the Genesee River Alliance to create and promote a series of “Independent Walks” along the Genesee River corridor. You can enjoy these audio guided walking tours while following recommended safety guidelines. If you have an iPhone, get the free Tour Blend app from the App Store and activate one of the following tours. If not, you can download and print the two-page brochures below, or view it on your mobile device at https://tourblend.com/gra/.
Community Partners: