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1. Vicki says:

   December 26, 2013 at 9:08 am

   They should do *something* with Genesee Crossroads Park. A bleaker, more uninviting landscape (for a park) I cannot imagine. I look at San Antonio’s Riverwalk, and our resources, and I want to cry. I am not overjoyed with a skatepark from an aesthetics point of view, but to bring people and activity to the area, I’m all for it.

2. kathy pilato says:

   December 26, 2013 at 11:55 am

   Vicki, I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been to S.A. Riverwalk and it seems that Rochester has so much as far as resources and so little as far as insight. The Skywalk is wasted, High Falls area is wasted, the view of the river is wasted, downtown is empty except for commuters. What a shame! Even the aqueduct/subway area is wasted. When they have the party in the park, which is great, you are standing in an ugly parking lot! A skating park is at least something that will get folks downtown. Get rid of the hoodlums so we feel safe, also.

3. John Smith says:

   December 26, 2013 at 4:29 pm

   Very cool project, they should incorporate some cool lighting into it so it’s visually aesthetic and usable during the night.

   Also if the crossroads park doesn’t work out the vacant Eastman Kodak HQ Parking lot might be a good alternate location because it could be expanded into the largest skate park in the world. If the skating community wants to go the extra mile.

4. Mittens says:

   December 27, 2013 at 6:24 pm

   I strongly prefer the old location under the “Freddie-Sue” bridge. While as a skateboarder I would love to ride at either location, the Crossroads Park area is MUCH better suited for other mixed use plans. How about restoring Front Street?

5. Joe says:

   December 27, 2013 at 8:47 pm

   Mittens has a point, it would be nicer to see mixed use here, but I have a feeling being over a parking garage its impossible or at least improbable. Probably another opportunity “urban renewal” has robbed from us.

   It could be a cool site, the important part is maintaining an area around the river to still be accessible for everyone and not just skaters. Given the fact that this is such a worthless park, a skate park could be a vast improvement.

6. Matthew Denker says:

   December 29, 2013 at 9:56 am

   Parks along rivers are particularly challenging because they are one sided. All of the pressure on the park must come from the non-river side. You don’t see this as much with beach parks (think Rhode Island), because the beach is a solid draw in ways a river is not. I can’t think of a single place in Rochester left with the density to put enough pressure on a park from one side. Even urban masterpieces in the city like the square in SBA are going to be under utilized because, even though it is fully built out, the US has seen such a drop in average occupants per unit at the same time as we have “un-densified.” This one-two punch is just too much for most park spaces.

   At least here, a skatepark would provide the additional draw to make a park interesting. It’s unlikely that we’re going to see a tower replacing crossroads any time soon, so the skate park seems like a solid improvement for the time being.

7. ELF says:

   December 30, 2013 at 6:37 pm

   “This place is like an abandoned park from the future. Something like Charlton Heston would find in Planet of the Apes and start screaming about.”

   – Comment on the RocWiki page

8. Chris says:

   January 10, 2014 at 3:09 pm

   Forgive me if this idea has been floated already, but speaking of wasted park space… Manhattan Square Park seems the more logical place to me. I’m no skate park expert by any means, but it’s already sunken below ground so would seem ideal for building ramps, pools, stairs, etc. Plus it’s closer to Krud Co. & Monroe Ave.

   Heck, if it’s good I might even take up skating again!

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