A project to take better advantage of the natural beauty of Rochester's High Falls area has taken another step forward.
The project on Brown's Race is small, but it represents a tangible step in the long term plans of the organization called Greentopia, which wants to create a series of public spaces, walkways and gardens that will stretch around the rim of the gorge at High Falls.
This project that officials have just cut the ribbon on is called the FlourGarden, and it has a fountain representing the falls, along with a garden featuring native plants.
Lewis Stess is CEO for Greentopia, and notes that he and his co-founder of the organization, Michael Philipson, were struck by that area's beauty when they first got the idea for the GardenAerial project.
“I remember Michael and I came down here and we saw this beautiful 96 foot waterfall and we turned to each other and said, where is everybody? So it’s our greatest natural asset, and we’re going to celebrate it through the GardenAerial project.”
Mayor Lovely Warren says the High Falls area is a great resource for the city, and this project helps highlight that fact.
“High Falls is one of the city’s most beautiful natural landmarks, and the city’s network of trail systems is one of our most significant, man-made resources, and this flour garden gives us a beautiful way to celebrate them both.”
The FlourGarden project cost $1 million, with half of that coming from the state through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, and the rest from other sources including private fundraising.
Stess says the next phase of the project is to connect the FlourGarden with the nearby Pont De Rennes bridge and start to create a connection between the Genesee Brewery and the new downtown MCC campus.
