Grant Helps Turn Rochester Lot into Great Lakes Tourism Destination

The Takeaway: A new marina bringing hundreds of new jobs and millions into the local economy was made possible by a grant and technical assistance from the New York Coastal Zone Management Program.

A former waterfront industrial and shipping site turned parking lot has now been transformed into the Port of Rochester Marina. The marina is expected to create 300 permanent jobs and generate $3.25 million in direct and indirect economic activity annually. Seed money from the New York State Coastal Management Program helped the City of Rochester realize this vision.

The marina’s eighty-four slips with modern amenities are surrounded by a public promenade featuring benches, picnic tables, barbeque grills, and park areas. The site takes advantage of the port’s proximity to the Charlotte Pier, Lake Ontario, and the nine-mile Genesee Riverway Trail, which offer additional parks and boating, fishing, hiking, and biking opportunities.

The marina not only improves local waterfront access and recreation but is expected to bring extra tourism dollars from Canada, because Rochester is the first port of call for ships coming down the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Sustainable marina design features include porous pavers to minimize runoff. Also, excavated slag from the site was used to create a pad for a planned solar farm. The New York State Coastal Management Program identified the site and supplied technical assistance and a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant. Additional partners include the City of Rochester, Founders/3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation and Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. (2018)

More Information: Port of Rochester Marina

Partners: The City of Rochester, Founders/3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and New York State Coastal Management Program, Environmental Facilities Corporation, and Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation