In early 2024, a grassroots coalition of neighbors and advocates launched an effort to secure official City of Rochester protection for all of Cobb’s Hill Park—particularly the northern areas around Lake Riley and Washington Grove to the east that had been omitted from the original 1972 Landmark designation. While the Olmsted-designed reservoir section already possessed City Landmark status, the remainder of the park—rich in cultural history, scenic landscapes, and Rochester’s only old-growth forest—remained unprotected.

The effort began when residents noticed a pavilion project required only partial Preservation Board review. Their inquiries revealed that only the southern section of the park was designated a Landmark. Determined to change that, representatives from the ABC Streets Neighborhood Association, Nunda Boulevard Association, and Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association convened to research the park’s history and prepare a new application. Over the following months, the coalition grew to include the Cobb’s Hill Historic District Committee, The Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance, Friends of The Grove, and the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee.

After a year of collaboration, outreach, and agency conversations, the coalition submitted its Landmark application in February 2025. The Rochester Preservation Board reviewed it that spring, voting unanimously in May to approve and sponsor the nomination. When the City Planning Commission initially held the item to confirm that no City projects would be adversely affected, the coalition worked closely with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to provide clarity.

Through these discussions, DES representative Tom Kicior recommended a more flexible path: designating the entire park as a Preservation District. This approach safeguards Cobbs Hill Park from major alterations to its landscape and building exteriors without public input and careful review by the Rochester Preservation Board—while allowing routine maintenance to proceed efficiently. Recognizing the shared goal of preservation and stewardship, DES partnered with the coalition to restructure the application and serve as the formal applicant.

The revised proposal advanced swiftly. With unanimous support from the RPB and CPC—and backing from Mayor Malik Evans—the Rochester City Council unanimously approved the Cobbs Hill Park Preservation District on September 24, 2025, uniting the entire park, including Washington Grove, under one protective umbrella. It is the ninth Preservation District established since the City’s Preservation Ordinance was enacted in 1969.

This milestone reflects hundreds of volunteer hours and a model partnership among neighbors, preservationists, and City staff. As ABC Streets president Tom Pastecki noted, “We’ve found that we can do things together—better.” Thanks to this dedicated coalition and the leadership of DES, Rochester has ensured that Cobbs Hill Park will continue to evolve as a beloved recreational space while retaining the historic landscapes and features that define its character.

This is exactly the kind of advocacy The Landmark Society thrives on—helping to protect the architectural and cultural heritage that makes our communities special, healthy, and vibrant. Have a place worth advocating for? The Landmark Society can help. Contact Megan Hillyard, Director of Preservation Services at mhillyard@landmarksociety.org.