Genesee Valley Park is a Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park located at the intersection of the Erie Canal and Genesee River. Its 800 acres were designed to connect the various green spaces and waterways together using a series of winding pathways.
Wandering around
Genesee Valley Park
The Genesee Riverway Trail connects with the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail and Erie Canalway Trail here in the park making it a perfect place to kick off a hike or bike ride.
The Tree of Life
This magnificent, 150-year-old White Oak was struck by lightning on July 4, 2010. It is believed that the tree pre-dates Olmsted’s park designing, so that Olmsted himself would have admired the tree and made it part of his vision.
Those gorgeous bridges!
Both picturesque and functional, GVP has 4 concrete foot bridges that connect the park across the Erie Canal, Genesee River, and Red Creek near East River Road. They feel like they’ve always been there, but they were not originally part of Olmsted’s design. That is because in 1888, when Olmsted designed Genesee Valley Park, the Erie Canal was running through Center City Rochester over an aqueduct which is now the Broad Street Bridge.
The canal was finished in 1825, but was enlarged in 1918 to become New York State Barge Canal System. As a result, the canal was re-routed to run south of the city through Genesee Valley Park where you’ll find it today.
Special events
These were taken during the Head of the Regatta and the Erie Canal Conference.
You can also rent canoes & kayaks from Genesee Waterways Center.
More information about Genesee Valley Park
- Cost: Free
- Located in the City of Rochester (get directions)
- More information: monroecounty.gov/parks-geneseevalley
Many of our City of Rochester parks have beginnings embedded in Rochester’s youth. Some were designed by (and later inspired by) notable landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Lawrence Halprin.
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Where are your favorite spots in GVP?
Share with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!