Residential density continues to grow in 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. Not only do these developments address the housing crisis, they enable street-level retail, making it more attractive to live and work downtown. It's a "virtuous cycle" that's in full bloom right now. vist.ly/4qnc6

We miss you already Midge 💔 rochesterbeacon.com/2026/01/09/a...

It's been a wonderful year, and we can't wait to go even BIGGER in 2026. On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you'll considering contributing towards our mission to clean, beautify and activate downtown Rochester at roctheday.org/downtownrocs Thank you! 🙏

What a year it's been!

Please enjoy our November update highlighting our efforts to clean, beautify and activate downtown Rochester... www.downtownrocs.org/blog/our-nov...

Only ONE WEEK until Rochester Street Films: Walkable USA! Reserve your seat and join the discussion on the revitalization and long-term success of our urban core. reconnectrochester.org/programs/roc...

It's complete... and it's magnificent! Our first mural was an amazing experience and we thank artist Shawnee Hill for bringing this to reality! Thank you also to RocGrowth for helping make this project happen. This work of art stands as a loving tribute to Midge Thomas, 99, who lives right next door

Rochester during Fringe Fest 😮 Photo by Monica Mullen (IG: @Dronebymon) @rochesterfringe.bsky.social

We're pleased to announce a new partnership with Grace of God Recovery House. Today we brought over litter pickers and buckets so that the men can help keep St. Joseph's Park and the surrounding neighborhood clean. We're grateful for their service-minded spirit and enthusiasm for a better downtown.

Things are getting real with our new downtown mural! The lift is on site to help finish the job 😎

Please enjoy our October update highlighting our efforts to clean, beautify and activate downtown Rochester... www.downtownrocs.org/blog/our-oct...

We’re proud to bring the newest work of art to downtown Rochester. Come on out tomorrow (Wednesday) and watch Shawnee Hill continue her mural on the side of Abilene Bar and Lounge! www.whec.com/top-news/mur...

Please enjoy our October update highlighting our efforts to clean, beautify and activate downtown Rochester... www.downtownrocs.org/blog/our-oct...

It begins! #mural #ROC

It's been a dream of ours to commission a downtown #ROC mural, so this is exciting new terrain. Thank you to RocGrowth and the @cityofrochester.bsky.social's Neighbors in Action (NIA) program for helping make this possible. www.rochesterfirst.com/community/ne...

Did you know there is still a small portion of Front Street remaining in downtown Rochester? Today we took on the challenge of cleaning up this forgotten little area, clearing over 200 pounds of garbage and bringing our season total to well over 2,000 pounds. That’s a TON of progress… literally 🤣

Halfway through October and some of our "creations" are still as beautiful (or more beautiful) than when they were planted!

We found two more benches downtown that were in need of some TLC. So we stained and sealed them both. Here's one of them... Thanks Mario!

Every day is an opportunity to make our city a little better! This is today's contribution. #beforeandafter #placemaking

When it's 80+ degrees in October, you just have to get up to some "good trouble". So we're commissioning Mario to give the Downtown ROCs treatment to another couple of benches at East Ave and Chestnut.

Just a little taste of the inaugural “ROC in the Ruins” at St. Joseph’s Park this past Saturday. Here a little sip of “Genny Lite”. #ROCintheRuins

It’s always a little bittersweet swapping out the summer annuals for mums. But you can’t argue with the results!

This was the last photo taken before closing St. Joseph’s Church last night after a wonderful “ROC in the Ruins” event. Just looked at it for the first time this morning 😲

TODAY! From 3-7pm at St. Joseph's Park, one of downtown Rochester's coolest spaces. Free admission.

Admit it! You've been just itching to break out the jeans and hoodie and chillax with some good music and good vibes in the crisp Fall air. Well, we've got just the opportunity for you... and it's FREE!

We hope you'll join us this Saturday afternoon for our first-ever "ROC in the Ruins" event at St. Joseph's Park from 3-7pm. Live music, games, crafts... FREE admission! And the weather is going to be perfect!! rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/01/r...

Please enjoy our September update highlighting our efforts to clean and beautify downtown Rochester... www.downtownrocs.org/blog/our-sep...

👍🏼 Thumbs up to Christian Manfredi for helping clean up litter in Downtown Rochester, helping bring our summer total to over 1,500 pounds!

A little birdie told us there was a wedding at St. Joseph's Park today, so we decided to make sure the potters outside the entrance were refreshed with a couple of big, beautiful new mums.

Was a bit of a challenging few days for the new Midge Thomas Community Garden. 3 flowers taken or destroyed. But we are committed to this project and to helping turn things around at St. Joseph’s Park. So there was only one possible response… replacing them immediately with something even better!

This project is really important, and the best thing we could do to leverage this investment would be to make walking (and biking) from downtown to the theater (and back) a pleasurable and interesting experience. Let’s prioritize beautifying, developing and activating the East Main corridor.

Placed outside the downtown G&G Steakout in memory of founder Rick Gause who recently passed. Rick loved flowers and even kept small begonias on the tables in his restaurant.

Swapped out the flowers in our planters at St. Joseph's Park with mums.

Time to swap out for the Fall 🍁 These 3 planters on Pleasant St have held up reasonably well all Summer, but thanks to support from @reconnectroc.bsky.social we were able to freshen them up for another round of color and beauty! #placemaking #ROC

It’s about to go down(town). But 🤫 mums the word!

STILL can't believe how much better this looks on Lawn Street!

Happy Friday! Here is our Downtown Rochester #picoftheweek 📸 Photo by: Mark Fornalik

😲 The mums outside our new digs at 318 E. Main have really started to "pop" since we potted them two weeks ago!

"Beauty in every space". That's part of our motto. This planter had so much potential, so we just had to spiff it up in time for the @rochesterfringe.bsky.social Festival. After all, you can literally see it from The Spiegeltent! #beforeandafter #placemaking

Thank you to Michael & Christine McMullen for "digging in" and helping us plant 25 hostas at the corner of Main and Stilson. This is just the start of our transformation of this surface parking lot, but these perennials are a foundation of beauty that will return year after year! #placemaking #ROC

Just a friendly reminder that 28% of downtown Rochester is off-street parking. This is marginally reduced by the new Center City Courtyard on W. Main. But the fact remains that there is more than enough parking... what downtown needs is in-fill development to generate density.

Highly-anticipated Shell Restaurant opening TONIGHT in downtown Rochester!

Today on Midge’s 99th birthday we added 12 more perennials to the garden named in her honor. I guess you could call it a Labor (Day) of love 💕

Happy 99th Birthday to our inspiration (and Board Member) Midge Thomas. Here's to celebrating your 100th! 🥂

Please enjoy our August update highlighting our efforts to clean and beautify downtown Rochester... www.downtownrocs.org/blog/our-aug...

A week later and it still looks magnifique! 🌺 If you haven't stopped by yet, we invite you to visit the corner of Clinton & Pleasant to see the new Margaret "Midge" Thomas Community Garden. #placemaking #ROC

After consulting with three different agencies, we're proud to share our new logo!

It was our honor and joy to unveil today the Margaret "Midge" Thomas Community Garden. Thank you to all who contributed towards this transformational project that honors Midge on the occasion of her 99th birthday! Special thanks to KD The Boulder Company for donating the boulder border and monument!

It was our honor and joy to unveil today the Margaret "Midge" Thomas Community Garden. Thank you to all who contributed towards this transformational project that honors Midge on the occasion of her 99th birthday! Special thanks to KD The Boulder Company for donating the boulder border and monument!

Thank you to Angel Vazquez from the @cityofrochester.bsky.social for helping put the finishing touches on the Midge Thomas Community Garden in time for tomorrow morning’s ribbon cutting. Angel volunteered on his own time after finishing his shift with the downtown maintenance team 🙏🏼