Rochester could spend nearly $1 million to upgrade Parcel 5, adding power, Wi-Fi and other infrastructure city officials say is needed to transform the downtown greenspace into Rochester's premier outdoor events venue.
The city's $977,646 in improvements, if approved by the City Council, would help make Parcel 5 work better for the dozens of events thousands of Rochester residents already attend there each year.
The funding will cover electrical infrastructure along Andrew Langston Way and Cortland Street, a power panel to support event staging and power needs, security cameras and Wi-Fi infrastructure and ground hydrants to keep the grass green. This is just the initial phase of investment, which the city will bond $625,000 for. The remaining
funding will come from 2018-19 cash capital.
Other future phases could include a digital event marquee, enhanced truck access to the south end stage set-up, a permanent event storage facility and permanent fencing along East Main and Elm streets. An adjacent parcel, 25 Atlas St., could be turned into an off-leash dog run.
The project would be publicly bid this summer with anticipated completion by spring 2027. The council will review the proposed bond legislation at its Aug. 13 meeting of the People, Parks and Public Works Committee.
The event and green space is the former home of Midtown Plaza. Since the building on the site was razed, Parcel 5 hosted events like the International Jazz Festival, Fringe Festival and other smaller community gatherings, rallies, yoga classes and more.
Mayor Malik Evans made the event and green space designation permanent in 2024 after some plans to build on the site did not come to fruition.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester plans $1M makeover for Parcel 5 event space | Exclusive
