A Summer of Community, Growth and Progress at Greentopia
t’s been a busy summer at Greentopia! From gathering 300 people on the Pont de Rennes Bridge to watching the Green Visions farm burst into bloom, July was filled with community, progress and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Dinner on the Bridge Was a Wonderful Success
The weather was perfect, the wine flowed, and 300 guests gathered on the Pont de Rennes Bridge for this year’s Dinner on the Bridge.
It was an incredible evening celebrating Rochester, our community and the work happening throughout Greentopia. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the generous sponsors who helped make the evening possible.
And there was even more to celebrate. Green Visions Workforce Development Director Morgan Barry and his wife welcomed their new baby girl, Josana, on July 23, the same day as Dinner on the Bridge!
Save the date: Next year’s Dinner on the Bridge will take place July 15, 2027.
A Walk Through Rochester’s Future State Park
On July 17, Greentopia partnered with Genesee Land Trust and TourBlend to give community members a closer look at the future state park surrounding High Falls.
Two groups explored the area on foot, traveling from High Falls down Falls Road and onto the current RG&E property near the former laser light show facility. Along the way, participants got a unique look at the landscape and learned more about the vision for the future park.
Progress is already underway. Rochester City Council approved a license agreement allowing New York State Parks to move forward with plans to renovate Falls Terrace Park, with groundbreaking planned for the fall.
The Green Visions Garden Is in Full Bloom
July brought plenty of heat, hard work and growth to the Green Visions farm in JOSANA.
Led by Urban Farm Manager Lisa Brayda, the team completed its flower installation during the early July heat wave. Now, the work is paying off as buds and blooms continue to appear throughout the farm.
Among this year’s crops are 750 donated Dahlia bulbs, spread across 32 beds, along with Zinnias, Celosia, Statice and more.
The result is a farm buzzing with life and a colorful harvest season ahead.
Volunteers Made a Big Impact
Keeping an urban farm thriving takes a community.
Throughout July, young adults participating in summer programs through Edison Technical High School and the Monroe County Judicial Processing Committee joined the Green Visions team to help with planting, watering and weeding.
A corporate volunteer group from M&T Bank also spent a day giving back at the farm.
Together, volunteers contributed an incredible 216 hours of assistance in July alone.
Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to help our gardens grow.
Exploring a Friends Organization for Rochester’s City Parks
The City of Rochester, in partnership with Parks & Trails New York, is exploring the creation of a Friends organization for Rochester’s city parks and trails.
Friends groups are typically grassroots, volunteer-led organizations that help preserve, improve and advocate for parks, trails and green spaces. They can also serve as an important connection between community members and local government, helping channel community involvement and support into public spaces.
The City is currently exploring what it would take to establish a formal nonprofit Friends group, including potential funding and next steps.
Community members interested in getting involved can contact Brent.Irving@cityofrochester.gov for more information.
Growing a Greener Rochester
From a sold-out Dinner on the Bridge and hundreds of volunteer hours at Green Visions to progress at High Falls and new conversations about the future of Rochester’s parks, this summer has been filled with momentum.
Thank you to everyone helping make Rochester greener, stronger and more connected.
There’s plenty more ahead, and we can’t wait to share what comes next.
