Start your exploration of the Erie Canal at Great Embankment Park. Nestled along the historic Erie Canal between Bushnell’s Basin and Pittsford, the Great Embankment offers scenic views, well-maintained walking and biking trails, a wildflower field, and areas for fishing and kayaking. Perfect for family outings, the park features picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports facilities.
Bird Harbor
As of June 2024, Bird Harbor is Pittsford’s newest sanctuary for native birds and pollinators. This beautiful space features native trees, shrubs, perennials, a pollinator garden, and a meadow, providing essential food and shelter for local wildlife. Part of Pittsford’s environmental stewardship efforts, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the sanctuary while learning about the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
The park features well-maintained trails that are popular among walkers, joggers, and cyclists. These trails provide a serene environment for exercise and leisure activities.
Creating the Great Embankment
Engineers built the Great Embankment for the Erie Canal between 1817 and 1822, a one-mile-long, 70-foot-high structure across the Irondequoit Creek valley. The embankment, which features a tunnel for the creek, was initially thought to be impossible due to the valley’s sandy terrain. To address this, dirt was transported from other areas to create the ridge. To prevent breaches, steel guard gates were installed at both ends of the embankment to minimize water loss in case of a failure.
More information about Great Embankment Park
Cost: Free
Located in Pittsford, roughly 13 minutes / 10 miles from Rochester (get directions)
More information: townofpittsford.org
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