Wetlands Park

Park Information

The Wetlands are located on the north side of Ellison Park and continue to Irondequoit Bay. This marsh area is great for canoe and kayak access to the bay. In 2001, an additional 12 acres were acquired in the wetlands area.

CLICK HERE for access information.

Rules and Regulations

The Wetlands Park is open daily 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. and has a carry in-carry out rule, which means you must take all your garbage with you for disposal after leaving the park. Glass is not allowed. All pets must be leashed and you are responsible for cleaning up after them. For more information call 585 753-PARK (7275).

What are Wetlands?

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities living in and on the soil. Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor the growth of specially adapted plants (hydrophytes) and promote the development of characteristic wetland (hydric) soils.

Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance. Indeed, wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica. Two general categories of wetlands are recognized: coastal or tidal wetlands and inland or non-tidal wetlands.

For more information visit the EPA website.

Ellison Park Area Master Plan Update

Monroe County is developing plans to improve the Ellison Area Parks. The DRAFT Master Plan Update from the consultant was reviewed at the Parks Advisory Committee meeting on 2/26/09 and is now posted here for your review. Please direct any comments regarding the DRAFT Master Plan Update to this e-mail address or the Monroe County Department of Parks at 171 Reservoir Ave., Rochester, NY 14620. The Parks Advisory Committee will consider the plan at its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Monroe County Parks Office at 171 Reservoir Avenue in Highland Park. In order to accommodate public comment to the fullest extent, while also providing the Parks Department, its Master Plan consultant and the Parks Advisory Committee with ample time to review the comments, the deadline for submission will be: Monday, March 16, 2009 at Noon. Comments received after the deadline will continue to be received and catalogued for inclusion in the final appendix of public comment, up until the conclusion of the master plan update process.