Monroe County seeks public input on historic Genesee Valley Park pedestrian bridges

Rochester, New York – Residents will have an opportunity to learn about three historic pedestrian bridges in Genesee Valley Park and share their views on the structures’ future during a public open house on Wednesday, October 28.

Monroe County is organizing the event in partnership with the City of Rochester and the Genesee Transportation Council. The session will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee Waterways Center, 149 Elmwood Avenue, as part of the Genesee Valley Park Olmsted Pedestrian Bridges Study.

The study will assess the three bridges and develop recommendations for both short-term and long-term maintenance. Public participation is encouraged, including from people who regularly cross the bridges and those interested in their history or continued role in the park.

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Designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm and constructed between 1916 and 1919, the bridges were built to reconnect park paths separated by the rerouting of the Erie Canal through Genesee Valley Park in the early 20th century. That history forms part of the background for the current assessment of the structures and their maintenance needs.

Today, the bridges connect paths used for walking, bicycling, commuting and recreation. County officials are inviting input from residents across those different user groups, along with anyone who wants to learn more about the crossings and their future.

The open house will provide information about the westernmost pedestrian bridge, including its history, present-day use and connections to the surrounding trail network. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit that bridge during the event.

An optional guided walking tour will begin at 5 p.m. in the Genesee Waterways Center parking lot. The route will follow approximately one-third of a mile of accessible, paved trail to the bridge, giving participants a chance to see the crossing as part of the informational session.

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The open house itself will follow a drop-in format. Residents may arrive at any point between 5 and 7 p.m., while those interested in joining the guided tour should plan to be at the parking lot for its scheduled departure at the start of the event.

Free parking will be available on-site. Visitors traveling by public transportation can use nearby RTS stops at Elmwood Loop, identified as Stop 1274, and Elmwood Avenue opposite Genesee Valley Park, identified as Stop 1273. Current bus routes and schedules are available through the RTS website.

People arriving on foot or by bicycle can reach the location using the Genesee Riverway Trail and Erie Canalway Trail. Those routes connect through the park’s pedestrian bridges, linking the meeting location with the broader trail network discussed in the study.

Additional information about the assessment and its focus on the three historic crossings is available on the Genesee Valley Park Olmsted Pedestrian Bridges Study project page.