Update from the Design Center

Happy 4th of July everyone. Due to holiday celebrations, the CDCR will not be hosting a First Friday Community Conversation. Please join us on August 2nd (4:30 pm) to discuss ‘Youth and Education’. Our youth are the next generation of planners, architects, engineers, and urban designers. We want students to be aware of the design professions and the role they will play in shaping the future environment. We further hope they will return home and share their expertise in their own community. It is critical to teach them early that their voices matter as part of this community. Please share with us topic ideas and influencers we can invite!

..................................................

Additionally, the CDCR will collaborate with the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Summer Curiosity Camp teaching 6-8 year old about architecture and engineering, community participation, and the creative design process through drawings and model building.

Our Next Design Workshop

Our next Design Workshop, “Track to the Future,” is on Friday, July 12^th,  from 10AM until 2PM at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum (282 Rush Scottsville Road, Town of Rush). Attendees will enjoy a train ride, explore exhibits and engage in creative design activities. The RGVRM offers an authentic rail transportation experience for visitors. They are looking to develop a master plan expand and improve their facility. Everyone is welcome!!

High Falls State Park Update

CDCR and Greentopia hosted community engagement events in early May for the proposed High Falls State Park. We are finalizing a document with ideas and recommendations for the NY Empire State Development (ESD), NYS Parks and selected design team. A few of those findings and recommendations include:

• Our park will establish best practices for welcoming access to all people.
• Placemaking is essential to economic development, job creation and retention and quality of life in the community.
• Adjacent neighborhoods shall be asset to and benefit from the State Park.
• Continuous publicity and engagement while planning and developing the park; from environmental cleanup to habitat restoration and construction of amenities.
• Continuously publicize the progress of the park development to the public.
• Establish an advisory committee and use LOCAL expertise for the programming and long-term management strategies.
• Early actions should benefit the neighborhoods; clean up debris, removing billboards and clear vegetation to allow views of the fall and river. 

Updates will be posted on the Greentopia and CDCR websites.

Our June Community Conversation

Our June First Friday Community Conversation was titled ‘College & University Collaboration in Community Engagement’. Representatives from the University of Rochester and UR Medical Center joined interested residents and design professionals to discuss the role of our higher education institutions in community planning and placemaking. The group discussed creating a universal set of guiding principles for all people and institution leaders across the region. These principles, coupled with goals and social values would serve the entire community and transcend leadership changes in our municipal governments, education, healthcare, industry, and cultural institutions. The discussion will be continued in October. We hope you'll join us.

Website Update

Cassidy Kress, our RIT consultant, is updating our website using the ESRI platform. The new interactive site and refreshed logo are expected to launch in early fall. Stay tuned for updates.

Our friends at Reconnect Rochester want your opinion!

Help shape our advocacy for bicycle infrastructure in Rochester by voting for your top 3 picks in infrastructure gaps that would provide the greatest benefits to Rochester bicyclists of all ages and abilities

CDCR is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.