Rochester is one of just four cities nationwide that boasts an entire park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of the landscape architecture profession. Olmsted designed Highland, Genesee Valley, and Seneca Parks for Rochester. These parks are now operated as part of the Monroe County Park System. Olmsted and the firm that continued his work after his retirement also designed several parkways and small neighborhood parks.

In 1888, Rochester’s Board of Park Commissioners selected Frederick Law Olmsted to design a network of parks and parkways for the city. The commissioners envisioned a system that would begin with the development of elegant, park-like boulevards, but Olmsted encouraged them to concentrate instead on setting aside generous amounts of open space as the city’s first major public parks. He proposed a system focused on the city’s great natural asset – the dramatic Genesee River in all its glorious variety.

Olmsted's three major parks in Rochester each represented different landscape styles. Highland Park was created on land donated to the city by horticulturists George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry; in recognition of their gift, the design called for an arboretum of various plants and shrubs that would preserve the dazzling views from the top of the hill. Genesee Valley Park, designed in Olmsted’s classic “pastoral” style, features gently rolling terrain along the river south of downtown. Seneca Park, meanwhile, is an excellent example of Olmsted’s “picturesque” style, with rugged terrain meant to inspire wonder and awe.

When Olmsted suggested setting aside the land for Highland, Genesee Valley and Seneca Parks, some people thought it unnecessary to set aside so much land so far from the center of the city, in relatively undeveloped areas where open land was plentiful. As Olmsted expected, the parks were not on the fringes for very long, as the city quickly grew to surround them. Today, Rochester’s three large Olmsted parks provide tranquility and beauty right in the city, while smaller parks and parkways are focal points of their neighborhoods.


For some reason I knew this, but forgot about it as the years passed by. I posted this bit of information, because traditionally, Rochester has been thought of as not having had access to the same architecturally designed parks, buildings, and such, as some of their other sibling cities around the US. I hope this puts that rumour to bed once and for all...

Pictures please.

Central Park in NYC, Delaware Park in Buffalo, Rochester Park system, what other city is in the mix?

Olmstead was awsome, I'm glad I've been to 3 of the 4 so far, maybe the 4th if I find out.

I can't say much for Rochester, never really checked out the park system, but Buffalo is beautiful...I can't explain.

Pictures please.

Steel, I've been all over the internet trying to find some, and so far, have been unable to do so. I've gotta believe that somewhere there has to be pictures of these parks, other than the random pics of the Lilac Festival, or the Veterans Memorial with so many people standing around, you couldn't get a good idea of the terrain or topography if you had to.

Help!

Is Duran Eastman Park part of the system?

Delaware Park is not Buffalo's only Olmstead Park. There's a whole system of them. Check it out...

http://www.buffaloolmstedparks.org/default.asp

Days Park in Allentown is another Olmstead Park, but it's not mentioned on this website. At least, I didn't see it there right away. I don't know why it's not in "the system." The Olmstead Park Conservancy has a sign in Days Park.

Steel, I've been all over the internet trying to find some, and so far, have been unable to do so. I've gotta believe that somewhere there has to be pictures of these parks, other than the random pics of the Lilac Festival, or the Veterans Memorial with so many people standing around, you couldn't get a good idea of the terrain or topography if you had to.

Help!

We will have to send Buffcity over there. He is only 45 minutes away and he needs some Roch exposure. Hey Buff are you up for it? Malo will tell you where to go for a good lunch.

I would go for sure...

I know that the Buffalo park system is Olmstead, I was referring to Delaware park in particular as a reference point. But thank NYC...lol

If you guys want me to venture up to the parks in Rochester, Im game...I will just need an idea of where to start. (or a link to the parks system of the city)

Olmsted did a great job in Buffalo...designing not only the parks but also Buffalo's great boulevards.

I have to agree, for a rustbelt city...Buffalo has alot of wealth within, if they can ever continue to build "Olmstead" style parks and parkways in the metro...it would be great.

Buffalo could be known as a city of fine parks if it wanted to.

Is Duran Eastman Park part of the system?

Not to my knowledge, no. Highland, Seneca, and Genesee Valley Parks.

Central Park in NYC, Delaware Park in Buffalo, Rochester Park system, what other city is in the mix?

Olmstead was awsome, I'm glad I've been to 3 of the 4 so far, maybe the 4th if I find out.

I can't say much for Rochester, never really checked out the park system, but Buffalo is beautiful...I can't explain.

Well, just to name the ones I know:

- The entire "Emerald Necklace" system of parks in Boston, including the Esplanade, Back Bay Fens, Jamaica Way, Fort Hill's Highland Park, Franklin Park (the largest park in the city) and (I believe) Forest Hills Cemetery (though I could be wrong on that one).

- Roger Williams Park in Providence (its largest city park)

Boston's Olmstead parks are quite beautiful though some parts are little forgotten they come in second in my opinion to Olmstead's Central Park

Central Park in NYC, Delaware Park in Buffalo, Rochester Park system, what other city is in the mix?

Olmstead was awsome, I'm glad I've been to 3 of the 4 so far, maybe the 4th if I find out.


If one considered Brooklyn as a seperate city, it would be the missing 4th. Olmstead did Prospect Park, which I have seen with my own eyes. A very nice part of the city, with the Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn library...

Had Brooklyn been incorporated into NYC during Olmsteads time? Maybe thats the catch here.

Is Cobbs hill an olmstead park? That is my favorite one in Rochester year round. You can have a great time there all four seasons. skating in winter, beautiful fall foliage in fall, the flowers in spring, and obvioulsy, just spending the whole day there during summer.

Just found this article:

Rochester's Olmsted Parks - About the Park System


Rochester is one of just four cities nationwide that boasts an entire park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of the landscape architecture profession. Olmsted designed Highland, Genesee Valley, and Seneca Parks for Rochester. These parks are now operated as part of the Monroe County Park System. Olmsted and the firm that continued his work after his retirement also designed several parkways and small neighborhood parks.

In 1888, Rochester’s Board of Park Commissioners selected Frederick Law Olmsted to design a network of parks and parkways for the city. The commissioners envisioned a system that would begin with the development of elegant, park-like boulevards, but Olmsted encouraged them to concentrate instead on setting aside generous amounts of open space as the city’s first major public parks. He proposed a system focused on the city’s great natural asset – the dramatic Genesee River in all its glorious variety.

Olmsted's three major parks in Rochester each represented different landscape styles. Highland Park was created on land donated to the city by horticulturists George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry; in recognition of their gift, the design called for an arboretum of various plants and shrubs that would preserve the dazzling views from the top of the hill. Genesee Valley Park, designed in Olmsted’s classic “pastoral” style, features gently rolling terrain along the river south of downtown. Seneca Park, meanwhile, is an excellent example of Olmsted’s “picturesque” style, with rugged terrain meant to inspire wonder and awe.

When Olmsted suggested setting aside the land for Highland, Genesee Valley and Seneca Parks, some people thought it unnecessary to set aside so much land so far from the center of the city, in relatively undeveloped areas where open land was plentiful. As Olmsted expected, the parks were not on the fringes for very long, as the city quickly grew to surround them. Today, Rochester’s three large Olmsted parks provide tranquility and beauty right in the city, while smaller parks and parkways are focal points of their neighborhoods.

Central Park in NYC, Delaware Park in Buffalo, Rochester Park system, what other city is in the mix?

Olmstead was awsome, I'm glad I've been to 3 of the 4 so far, maybe the 4th if I find out.

I can't say much for Rochester, never really checked out the park system, but Buffalo is beautiful...I can't explain.

might the fourth city be wilmington? olmstead picked the places for rockford park, canby park, and brandywine park, and he landscaped them as well. he also designed roads such as kentmere parkway. i believe he designed rodney square as well, but i'm not too sure about that.

olmstead did stuff in several cities all over the northeast and the country. i don't think it is fair to say he is responsible for the park systems in only 4 cities.

doesn't louisville have an olmstead park system also?

I guess when you consider the cities named thus far, they happened to be the more significant ones when Olmstead was active.