2025 Framework Plan

High Falls State Park is poised to transform a formerly industrial landscape into a dynamic, inclusive public space that celebrates the city’s natural power and cultural legacy. Anchored by the breathtaking 80-foot Genesee River waterfall known as High Falls, the park will offer accessible trails, immersive exhibits, and ecologically restored landscapes for people of all ages and abilities.

With a focus on equity, sustainability, and community-driven design, the park reclaims a site shaped by coal and industry into a welcoming destination for recreation, education, and reflection, revitalizing downtown Rochester while honoring its past and investing in its future.

1) Nestled within the woodland, the groves create moments of openness that invite light into the forest canopy—supporting a greater diversity of plant and animal life. These sunlit pockets enhance habitat variety, encouraging native flora to thrive and attracting pollinators, birds, and small wildlife.

2) The relic garden honors an iconic footprint of the old RG&E gas holding tanks from a prior industrial era. The garden will tell the story of how the former industrial site was adapted into a place for community gatherings within an ecological setting.

3) A central connector within the park, the Pedestrian Bridge links the east and west sides, creating a seamless experience across the gorge. This elevated walkway offers dramatic, panoramic views of the river, High Falls, and the surrounding landscape.

4) An industrial relic reimagined as a striking public space, Incinerator Plaza preserves portions of the historic structure to honor the site’s layered heritage. This partially retained form provides a dramatic and iconic backdrop for events, performances, and gatherings.

5) A welcoming, flexible lawn that supports a wide range of passive and active uses throughout the year. From picnics and casual play to seasonal events and community gatherings, this open space invites people to relax, connect, and enjoy the park in every season.

6) A wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy the park—a destination for play, learning, and exploration. Thoughtfully designed for all ages and abilities, the playground invites curiosity and connection, offering a joyful entry point into the larger park experience.

7) The Beebee Station Walk connects visitors to Rochester’s industrial past, tracing the site of RG&E’s massive power plant. For over 50 years, the plant spanned eight acres, rising from the gorge floor to tower over Platt Street—an iconic symbol of the city’s industrial legacy.

8) An elevated connector carries visitors above an ephemeral island—sometimes visible, sometimes submerged—creating a dynamic experience shaped by the river’s flow. This overlook offers a powerful moment of orientation, drawing the eye toward the dramatic cascade of High Falls and immersing visitors in the ever-changing energy of the landscape.

9) From this overlook, visitors are offered a striking orientation toward the power and scale of High Falls, with panoramic views of the gorge, the river below, and the surrounding city.

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