Aqueduct District Transformation

The Aqueduct District now features pedestrian-friendly spaces while retaining vehicle access. Completed in June 2024, this project was completed in anticipation of the Aqueduct Reimagined project and coincided with the grand opening of Constellation Brands’ headquarters in the historic Aqueduct Building. 

Learn more: Aqueduct District Street Improvement Project

Genesee Gateway Park

In 2023, this park on Mt. Hope Avenue north of Ford Street received new river railings, upgrades to the Genesee Riverway Trail, plaza paving, a custom playground, a basketball court, picnic areas with grills, and a hand carried boat launch. 

Learn more: Genesee Gateway Park

Pont de Rennes and Browns Race Upgrades

Structural repairs and enhancements to the Pont de Rennes bridge and adjacent Browns Race were completed in 2024, transforming this iconic site into a dynamic public space overlooking High Falls. 

Learn more: Pont de Rennes bridge

Austin Steward Plaza & Sister Cities Bridge Upgrades

Revitalization of Austin Steward Plaza includes ADA-accessible pathways, improved lighting, greenspaces, and new pedestrian connections, completed in 2024. Improvements to the east side of the river are under design.  

Learn more: Austin Steward Plaza

Learn more: Sister Cities Bridge

High Falls Terrace Park and Brewery Line Trail Enhancements

Completed in 2023, these projects added scenic improvements, indigenous plantings, play areas, and trail upgrades to create welcoming spaces along the Genesee River. 

Learn more: High Falls Terrace Park & Brewery Line Trail

Main Street Resurgence 

Upgrades to Main Street included improved sidewalks, lighting, seating, and trail connections, completed in 2023, making the downtown corridor more accessible and vibrant. 

Learn more: Main Street Resurgence

High Falls State Park

Plans for a 40-acre state park around High Falls and the Genesee River are in progress. Over the next five years, remediation will continue, allowing phased construction to open this natural gem to the public. 

Learn more: High Falls State Park

Convention Center Renovation

The Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center will feature a glass-fronted Main Street addition, updated bathrooms, improved accessibility, and much more. Completion is anticipated in 2026. 

Learn more: Convention Center upgrades

ROC City Skatepark Expansion

A 20,000-square-foot addition to the skatepark is in design, with construction anticipated in 2025 to provide more space for skating and community events. 

Learn more: ROC City Skatepark phase 2

• Phase I Vision Plan: The final plan from 2018
• Phase I Image Gallery: A gallery of images of each page in the plan, provided as an alternative format to the PDF
• Interactive ROC the Riverway Storymap: A map and graphics-based summary of the Phase I projects
• Full ROC the Riverway Proposal: The original $500 million proposal presented to Governor Cuomo, which resulted in the $50 million Phase I award
• ROC the Riverway Proposal Executive Summary: A summary of the original proposal to the Governor

• Enhance the City’s potential for attracting State and private investment along the Genesee River;
• Produce seamless multi-modal access along both sides of the river via the Genesee Riverway Trail and neighborhood connections to the trail;
• Create dynamic public spaces, including a multi-use gathering space as the centerpiece of downtown;
• Provide a massive boost to downtown’s ongoing resurgence;
• Spur private development and job creation;
• Repair and maintain critical infrastructure;
• Remediate waterfront brownfield sites ;
• Increase boating activity in the water south of Douglass-Anthony Bridge (I-490);
• Establish a framework for active, sustained programming of public spaces and first floor uses.

• Focus on design that is oriented to pedestrians, bicyclists, boaters, and recreational enthusiasts;
• Re-orient buildings to the water and adjacent public spaces;
• Focus first on public spaces and facilities that serve citizens and visitors;
• Improve connectivity to, from, along and across the river;
• Create numerous opportunities for public art, historic interpretation, whimsical installations, and environmental stewardship – all united to create a sense of urban ‘play’ and celebration of the river.

• Bob Duffy (Co-Chair), Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
• Anne Kress (Co-Chair), Monroe Community College
• Lisa Baron, Greentopia
• Clement Chung, ROC City Coalition (Past Chair)
• Veronica Dasher, Rochester Gas & Electric (AvanGrid/Iberdrola)
• Shawn Dunwoody, DUNWOODE Visual Consulting
• Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy
• Norman Jones, City of Rochester 
• Nichole Malec, Constellation Brands (Downtown resident)
• Eugenio Marlin, Ibero-American Development Corp.
• Mary Beth Popp, North American Breweries
• Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, Rochester Downtown Development Corp.

ROC the Riverway projects have been identified in numerous other plans and studies. ROC the Riverway is a means to show how they can be stitched together to form a cohesive vision for a revitalized waterfront. 

ROC the Riverway is a concept-level visualization of select projects found in the City of Rochester’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), completed in 2017.

All renderings shown above and in the document are conceptual, not final designs. All private development and privately-run activities illustrated are shown to demonstrate context and the potential for leveraging funding.