The Olmsted Bridges of Genesee Valley Park
A cruise aboard Riverie is a great way to view Rochester’s noteworthy architectural and natural landmarks. One of these sites is Genesee Valley Park (GVP), centered around the location where the Genesee River crosses the Erie Canal. Known originally as South Park, the pastoral style GVP was designed by the renowned landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvin Vaux, both famously known for designing Central Park in Manhattan. GVP was laid out in the late 1880s on a large 800-acre tract of rolling farmland.
In the early 20th century, decisions had to be made concerning the Erie Canal and its aging viability for carrying new, larger commercial barges. Plans for an enlarged Barge Canal were developed and between 1905 and 1918 construction took place. A whole host of reasons including political, practical, and competition with the railroads, kept the canal outside of downtown Rochester and ultimately routed through the GVP.
To help connect the divided park and its disrupted trail system, the Olmsted firm designed three graceful arched structures inspired by the Calvin Vaux Central Park Bow Bridge. Construction using relatively new design techniques of reinforced concrete was slowed down during the war years, but in 1920 the bridges were finally completed for pedestrian use. These three pedestrian bridges arch over the canal on both sides of the river and are best viewed from Riverie’s deck.
The bridges still function today, but are in very bad disrepair. To draw attention to their beauty and architectural significance, the Landmark Society of Western New York added the bridges to their “Five to Revive” list in 2013, and the Preservation League of NYS placed them on their “Seven to Save” list in 2014. Advocacy for repairing these important historic structures continues.
Corn Hill Navigation has joined with the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance which represents a number of local organizations advocating for the preservation and rehabilitation of the three Olmsted-designed bridges in Genesee Valley Park.