Genesee Valley Park West Master Plan

The 2015 Genesee Valley Park West Master Plan provides a long-range strategy for revitalizing the west side of this 800-acre park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1890. The park is the only public riverfront landscape in Rochester where visitors can experience tranquil pastoral views of the Genesee River, as Olmsted originally intended. While the eastern side remains open and undeveloped, the western side has seen infrastructure-intensive recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and sports fields, which have detracted from the park's natural beauty. The master plan aims to modernize park amenities, reorganize recreational spaces, and restore Olmsted’s historic vision. This plan removes barriers, enhances sightlines, improves circulation, and provides equitable, multi-generational recreational opportunities.

Zakery Steele served as Project Manager throughout the project, overseeing all phases of the planning process to reimagine this historic park for the future while honoring its 19th-century design intent.