Rochesterians are getting their first look at three designs for a planned civil rights heritage site at Baden Park as the city looks for a new round of community feedback.
The three alternatives would retain recreational features including basketball, baseball and T-ball while creating a site honoring Rochester’s civil rights history and the legacy of the late Rev. Franklin D. Florence.
In 2017, a group from Rochester’s Spiritus Christi Anti Racism Coalition took inspiration from Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Kelly Ingram Park is a 4-acre park that honors civil rights leaders native to Birmingham and features several statues that depict the experiences of Black Americans in the South during the Civil Rights Era.
The project will be
located in Baden Park, near Abraham Lincoln School.
Three designs proposed for Baden Park heritage site
The city is collaborating with local architect and planning firms, SWBR and Hallmark Planning & Development for the park’s designs. Hallmark Planning & Development conducted three surveys to learn how residents envision the park.
“When you come into this park, what do you want to see and feel?” founder and CEO of Hallmark Planning & Development Art Hall said.
Multidisciplinary artist Shawn Dunwoody is part of the city’s consulting team, helping gather input from the Upper Falls community. In previous meetings, Venus McNeil, who grew up in the Hanover Housing Community, suggested seeing more untold stories of Rochester’s leaders. Other attendees recounted personal memories they have shared at the park site with friends, family and other members of the Upper Falls community.
“It’s these small tales and stories that we really want,” Dunwoody said. Each design includes different features and themes modeled after feedback given by members of the community.
Three options for civil rights heritage park
Three park designs are included on the city of Rochester's website for the project. The options are nicknamed "Circles of Discovery," "Central Spine" and "Coming Together."
The three versions feature different locations for a variety of proposed park features. Among those features:
Entrance Gateways: Entrance gateways at each access point to Baden Park would welcome visitors into the space while highlighting elements of civil rights heritage. Depending on their location, some gateways may also include larger plaza areas featuring art, opportunities for reflection and interpretive themes related to the civil rights movement.
Amphitheater/Outdoor Classroom: This space would take advantage of the site's existing layout to create stepped-amphitheater seating to function as both an outdoor classroom and a gathering space.
Central Plaza/Stage: A main gathering plaza designed for larger groups, including art and interpretive features inspired by the civil rights movement.
Entrance Plaza: A larger plaza space located near the pedestrian entrance on Upper Falls Boulevard, incorporating art and symbols of the civil rights movement to create an immediate sense of arrival and meaning.
Timeline Trail/Legacy Walkways: A trail that would showcase key moments, figures and stories from civil rights history along the route.
Rochester hosting meetings as project designs are finalized
While the development of the master plan is still underway, the city of Rochester and its consultant team have been seeking input from community members and key stakeholders to learn more about the park's current utilization, and how residents envision the project's designs.
While a date and time for the next public meeting have not been determined, residents may give feedback through an online survey that will close on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Residents will also be able to connect with members of the park’s planning board at the Urban League of Rochester’s seventh-annual Interrupting Racism Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 at 125 E. Main St.
The city plans to have the designs finalized by January 2027.
Visit cityofrochester.gov to view design plans and complete the online survey.
—Genae Shields is the Business and Development Impact Reporter, working on mobility stories that focus on how people get around Rochester. As a member of the local community, Genae enjoys learning about emerging businesses and changes that impact Rochester's BIPOC and LGBTQ neighborhoods. She also enjoys supporting local artists and nonprofit organizations. Reach out at gshields@usatodayco.com or on Instagram:@genaebriphoto for questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your continued support!
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Public input sought on 3 designs for Rochester civil rights park
