The Rochester/Monroe County area has a lot of parks (three are Olmstead Parks) and these are environmentally benign and public areas, in the midst of an area continually in growth.  It is up to the public to insure that various groups do not try and privatize what has been set aside for the public to educate themselves about our environment and to provide a respite from continually development.  My goal is give an overall impression on how important these last remaining areas of undeveloped land in our county contributes to our environmental health. 

Monroe County's Parks

View the slide show below of our parks.

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Monroe County Parks in the News

Other Parks and Trails near the Rochester Area

Resources for Monroe County Parks

Individual Listing of Monroe County Parks

   Monroe County Parks Department  "The Monroe County Parks Department proudly operates and maintains all of the following parks: Black Creek Park - Churchville Park - Devil's Cove Park - Durand-Eastman Park - Ellison Park and Wetlands - Genesee Valley Park - Greece Canal Park - Highland Park - Irondequoit Bay East and West Parks - Irondequoit Bay Marine Park - Lehigh Valley Linear Trail Park - Mendon Ponds Park - Northampton Park - Oatka Park - Ontario Beach Park - Powder Mills Park -  Seneca Park - Tryon Park - Webster Park "--from Monroe County Parks Department. E-mail: mcparks@co.monroe.ny.us

• To help you find out where to go, check out the Democrat and Chronicle's Park and Trails interactive map.

• A great source for Greater Rochester/Monroe County Parks

• Click here for:  Parks, Recreation and Human Services - City of Rochester N.Y..  Go here for individual listing of City Parks: Parks in Rochester, NY

• Click here for Individual Listing of Monroe County Parks

New York State Canals: Excursions and Vacations: Biking and Hiking the Canalway Trail is comprised of a network of more than 240 miles of existing multi-use, recreational trails across upstate New York. Major segments are adjacent to the waterways of the New York State Canal System (see our map) or follow remnants of the historic original canals of the early 1800s that preceded today's working Canal System. Also: New York State Canals: News

•  Monroe County Parks --Separate pages in RochesterEnvironment.com with resources and photographs:

[ seneca park ]

•  Other Parks and Nature Centers near the Rochester Area

  • Though not in Monroe County, we can't forget one of the largest parks in our country--right next door: THE ADIRONDACK PARK: An overview of the 6.1 million acre park. This is a very comprehensive site, including clickable maps, planning vacations, etc.
  • Finger Lakes National Forest The only National Park in New York State. The Finger Lakes National Forest is comprised of about 15,374 acres, which makes it one of (if not the smallest) National Forest in the system. It is located between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes region of north-western New York.
  • Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Beaver Meadow Nature Center: Beaver Meadow is a 324 acre wildlife sanctuary that was named for the Beavers that were imported into the region after the fur market in the 1800's extirpated all the native Beaver in the region. The land was purchased and is maintained by the Buffalo Audubon Society. A Christmas Bird Count is held annually and is centered at Beaver Meadow.
  • Cayuga Nature Center Online Cayuga Nature Center (CNC) is a nonprofit, private organization dedicated to providing education for schools, community groups and the general public throughout the year. Programs are for anyone interested in learning more about the environment, the out-of-doors and themselves.- Cayuga Nature Center, Inc. -1420 Taughannock Blvd -Ithaca, NY 14850 -607/273-6260 Fax: 607/273-1719

Hike, Bike, Cross Country Ski, Snowshoe and Birding Trail Guide Books  Hiking, biking, bird watching,  cross-country skiing & snowshoeing, and waterfalls trail guidebooks for New York State. Specializing in the Finger Lakes, Central NY, Western NY and Rochester, New York areas. We show you the best places to hike, bike ride, snowshoe, ski, walk your dog, bird watch and explore waterfalls. 

Monroe County Parks in the News

Parks & Trails New York is a non-governmental, not-for profit, statewide membership organization. Our mission is to work to expand, protect and promote a network of parks, trails and open spaces throughout the state for the use and enjoyment of all.

29 Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
518-434-1583
Fax: 518-427-0067

ptny@ptny.org

•  Resources for Monroe County Parks

  • National Park Service: Maps, passes, information--everything you need from the government on our national parks. 
  • Monroe County People For Parks, Inc.,  5 Castle Park, Rochester, New York 14620 People for Parks
    is the only local, not-for-profit organization solely dedicated to the preservation and protection of the historical, horticultural, and natural legacy for which our parks are famous.
  • Monroe County Parks Department: Parks | Monroe County, NY
  • Complete list of Rochester's Parks: PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES & PROGRAMS
  • Genesee Valley Chapter of ADK The Adirondack Mountain Club is a non-profit organization that, through its various chapters and lodges, operates exclusively for conservation, recreation and educational purposes and whose assets and earnings profit no member, officer or employee. The Genesee Valley Chapter is also a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. We are extremely active in the scheduling of outings. Our trip calendar has something for everyone: hiking, backpacking, X-C skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing and cave exploration. The difficulties of these trips range from easy for the beginner, to challenging for the expert. There's always at least one beginners trip in each of the categories so it's a great opportunity to try out a new sport. Through our conservation committee we keep current (and often take active stands) on such issues as acid rain, state land acquisition and local park planning.

   

•  Individual Listing of Monroe County Parks

  • Monroe County: Highland Park In a beautiful setting of hills and valleys resulting from glacier deposits lies Highland Park. Now best known as the home of Rochester's famous Lilac Festival, Highland Park has a history as colorful as its 500 varieties of flowering shrubs.
  • Corbet's Glen LAND TRUST, BRIGHTON PARTNER TO PRESERVE CORBETT’S GLEN Corbett's Glen Location On Allens Creek, a tributary of Irondequoit Creek in the town of Penfield, Monroe County.--from Ruth's Waterfalls. 
  • Durand Eastman by  Tom Lathrop and Kurt Fox
  • Tinker Nature Park is located at 1525 Calkins Road in the Town of Henrietta, New York. In 1992, John and Carol Aldridge donated 68 acres of the Tinker family's farm to the Town of Henrietta to be developed as a nature park.
  • Macedon Trails Committee "The Committee continually works to build and maintain a system of logically connected trails which provide public access to muscle-powered recreational opportunities both within the Town of Macedon as well as connecting trails with similar networks in adjoining communities."
  • Welcome to the Victor Hiking Trails, Inc. "Our purpose is to develop a trail system which will preserve open space and provide an educational and recreational experience for everyone in the town of Victor. "
  • Tinker Nature Park: "Tinker Nature Park is located at 1525 Calkins Road in the Town of Henrietta, New York. At Tinker Nature Park, you are a guest in plant and animal communities which have been preserved so you and future generations may understand and enjoy the fields, marsh, pond and forest as nature made them."
  • New York State Canal System  One of the main attractions to Rochester, New York is the canal which provides a wonderful boating experience.  But, there's a lot more to the canal than boating. "The New York State Canalway Trail System is comprised of a network of more than 220 miles of existing multi-use, recreational trails across upstate New York." Anything you want to know about our canal system is provided on this web site.
  • Comings Nature Center: How Do I Get There?
  • Finger Lakes Trail Conference The mission of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference is to build, protect, and enhance a continuous footpath across New York State, Forever!
  • North Country Trail Association Home Page The North Country National Scenic Trail is a premier footpath that one day will stretch more than 4,000 miles to link communities and wilderness areas across seven northern states. Already, more than 1,600 miles have been completed! The map above shows the projected trail in its entirety. When completed it will be the longest hiking trail in the United States.
  • The Crescent Trail "The Crescent Trail is a footpath in the Town of Perinton, a suburb southeast of Rochester. Twenty-six miles of trail wind through wooded hills and scenic wetlands. The Trail connects with the Erie Canal Heritage Trail (or towpath) along the banks of the Erie Canal, to the Perinton Hikeway-Bikeway, and to trails in the neighboring towns of Pittsford, Victor, and Macedon." 
  • Genesee Valley Greenway - Home Page Find out about this new project that attempts to 19th century canal into a 21st century greenway.
  • Thousand Acre Swamp
  • GORP -New York National Wildlife Refuges Here you can find information about our area's two New York National Wildlife Refuges: Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Genesee Crossroads Park
  • Churchill Park
  • Cobb's Hill Reservoir Park
  • Cornerstone Park
  • Ellison Park
  • Edgeron Park
  • Genesee River Falls Overlook
  • Genesee Valley Park
  • Hamlin Beach State Park
  • Liberty Pole Park
  • Manhattan Square Park
  • Maplewood Park & Rose Garden
  • Mount Hope Cemetery
  • Ontario Beach Park
  • St. Joseph's Park Dominated by the dramatic clock tower of the former St. Joseph's Church, this neighborhood represents an opportunity in the making. When the church burned in the '70s, its walls and tower were preserved and its grounds turned into a grassy park. --from RochesterDowntown.com // Neighborhoods
  • Turning Point Park - In Turning Point Park, Rochester, Monroe County, NY. This small park is at the end of Boxart Street which is off of Lake Avenue in the northern part of Rochester. -from Ruth's Waterfalls
  • Northampton Park - Welcome To Northampton Park - INFORMATION: (585)256-4950  - One of the newer additions to the Monroe County Parks system, this 973-acre park attracts winter enthusiasts with its designated sledding hill, cross-country ski trails and downhill skiing with a rope tow. Group camping is available with a special permit by calling (585) 872-5326.
  • Mendon Ponds Park - This public park is a part of the Monroe County Park system. It was registered in the National Registry of Natural Landmarks in 1969 because of the glacial geology that features several ponds and many low swampy areas. Mendon Ponds Park is about 2500-2700 acres (figure varies depending upon who you ask) with numerous hiking, skiing and horseback-riding trails (about 13 miles total) which are open to the public all year round. Large eskers exist on both the east and west sides of the park and numerous glacial ponds may be found throughout the park.
    • Mendon Ponds Park
    • Mendon Ponds Park Walk - from City Guide For Rochester, NY
  • Seneca Park - INFORMATION: (585)256-4950 - Originally called North Park, this three-mile preserve of forested river gorge was renamed Seneca (which means "stone") to recognize its Indian heritage as well as the deeply cut stone in the river gorge. Another of Frederick Law Olmsted's works of living art, the park includes Trout Lake, created by damming a natural spring. Swan boats, propelled by drivers who pedaled the boats like bicycles, carried visitors around the lake until 1922.
    • Rochester Video and Photo Tour
    • Views in Seneca Park, Rochester, N. Y.
    • Seneca Park Walk  - from City Guide For Rochester, NY