Parks Mission

The Monroe County Parks Department is comprised of dedicated staff working with community partners in effectively and efficiently providing an array of park services. This ensures that everyone may enjoy recreational and educational opportunities while treasuring the natural, zoological, horticultural, historical and geological features of the Monroe County Parks System.

• Follow us on:
  • Twitter: @21MCParks
  • Facebook: 21MCParks
  • Instagram: MC21Parks

Find information about, and maps for, each of the beautiful and unique Monroe County Parks by clicking on the Park link in the column on the left side of the screen. 

Parks Announcements & News

**At this time we are not serving the public in person, if you still wish to register for the dog park printable forms can be completed and placed in the drop box in our office, more information available on the dog park page here. **

**As of May 20, 2020, the Monroe County Dog Parks are open. They have been reopened with specific COVID-19 guidelines. Please follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask at all times while in the Dog Park. There are also updated maximum capacities for each park and large/small dog sections. For the Greece Canal Dog Park there should be no more than 100 people on the large dog side and 70 on the small dog side. For Ellison Dog Park there should be no more than 100 on the large dog side and 30 on the small dog side.**

Parks Covid-19 Status Updates:

General Information (7/07/2020)

• Park users: practice safe social distancing.
• Practicing safe social distancing is the most important action that will help to keep our parks open.
• Practice good hygiene by appropriately washing hands.
• Although we continue to sanitize our parks and make every effort to provide a healthy environment, please make responsible decisions, based on your personal risk profile, on whether to expose yourself to others.
• We continue to monitor all recommendations and will implement as necessary. If you, a family member or someone you have been in touch with has respiratory symptoms, particularly fever, do not visit.

County Beach

• Ontario Beach Park – Open 7 days a week. 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Swimming hours are from 11am to 7pm during the summer when Lifeguards are on duty.  Lifeguards are on duty beginning June 26^th.

• Beach - 50% capacity for sunning and swimming, no concessions.
• Bathrooms – Open
• Showers – Open
• Concessions – Closed
• Coolers – with food and beverages in plastic containers only.
• Social Distancing – Visitors must wear a mask if they cannot social distance within six feet. Small families in specific sand areas do not have to wear a mask when sitting. Mask is not required in the water.

Open Parks and Areas

• Public outdoor areas in parks, nature preserves and recreational trails.
• Webster Park Campground.
• Kayaking/Canoeing Boat Launches.
• Dog Parks County-(Greece Canal Park, Ellison Park) Towns-(Henrietta, Pittsford, Sweden)
• Public bathrooms, where available and have direct entrance/exit.
• Playgrounds
• Lodges and Shelters (COVID -19 capacity restrictions will be in effect.)
• Wild Wings at Mendon Ponds Park (Limited Days. Contact Wild Wings for availability)

Closed Parks and Areas

• Parks Department administrative offices at 171 Reservoir Avenue Rochester.
• Permit Office for in-person visits at 171 Reservoir Avenue Rochester. Phone calls taken at (585) 753-7275 during regular business hours of 8:30 am. to 4:30 pm. No new reservations being taken until further notice.
• Springdale Educational Farm
• Ballfields closed to organized sports
• No concessions

Golf Courses

• Golf Courses – Open (Genesee Valley, Durand Eastman, Churchville Park)
• Driving Ranges – Open (Genesee Valley and Churchville Park) * Subject to ground conditions and maintenance. Golf balls, tokens and range baskets are sanitized after each use.
• We strongly encourage all golfers to book tee times online (monroecountyparksgolf.com), however we are accepting tee times over the phone and walk-ins.
• Maximum of 10 guests are allowed inside the pro shops at one time. Face coverings are REQUIRED to enter the pro shops and bathrooms. Credit cards and cash are accepted.
• Golf Carts are washed and sanitized after each use. Two people per cart if they live in the same household. If not, one person per cart. Carts are on a first come first served basis and availability is subject to course conditions. Pull carts are available; golfers who can, are encouraged to walk.
• Tee time intervals have increased from 8 minutes to 10 minutes to aid in social distancing.
• Flagsticks do not have to be touched and should not be removed. No raking of bunkers.
• Rakes and ball washers have been removed from the course.
• Golfers are instructed to not gather in groups or clusters while on or off the golf course.
• Snack Bars are now serving food and beverage as a to-go service. Limited outside seating is available.
• The driving range, pro shops and bathrooms close 1 ½ hours prior to sunset each night for cleaning and sanitizing purposes.
• The last riding cart and pull cart rental will be 2 ½ hours prior to sunset. Carts must be in prior to darkness.

Cancellations

• Scheduled public programs in parks to be approved on a case by case basis.
• Permits for picnic areas and ballfields, to be approved on a case by case basis.
• Movies in the Parks
• Pick up the Parks
• Big Band Dances Spring and Fall
• Concerts by the Shore

Events In the Parks

• Clickable Online Events Calendar

Dog Park Registration

Be advised under Covid-19 restrictions our office is currently not open to the public visit dog park web page for full information

You may register your dog for the Monroe County Dog Parks at the Monroe County Parks Administrative Office, located at 171 Reservoir Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620, across the street from the Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park.  Registraion is open during regular business hours, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays (excluding Holidays). Extended application dates begin on October 1st.

• For additional information on Dog Park Registration (Documents required, Fees, etc.) Please Click Here

Seasonal Parks Information

• Athletic fields: Fields are open May 1st for the spring season, and stay open through October 31st (dependent on conditions).
  • We do not permit usage from November until May. 
  • We start accepting Special Use Field Applications (for spring, summer, and fall seasons) each year on the last Friday of January at 8:30am. 
• Boat Launches (non-motorized, canoes, kayaks, rowboats): Launches at Black Creek, Churchville, Ellison, Irondequoit Bay Park West, and Mendon Ponds Parks are available seasonally between early spring and late fall.
• Camping: Trailer, RV, Mobile Home, and tent camping for families is available at Webster Park from May 1st until October 31st. Click here to make reservations.
  • Youth/ Scout tent camping is available at Greece Canal, Mendon Ponds, Northampton, and Webster Parks all year. 
• Carousel: The cost is $1 per ride and children 2 and under ride for free with a paying adult.

The 2020 Schedule:

• ​Cross-Country Skiing: Groomed trails are available at Durand Eastman, Mendon Ponds, and Webster Parks, seasonally, as conditions allow, during winter months.  Please visit the Rochester Cross Country Ski Foundation website for daily conditions.
• Disc Golf: Baskets at Churchville and Ellison Parks go up for the season in mid April, and stay up until early to mid November
  •  Churchville Park has opened its Disc Golf course for the season.
  •  Ellison Park has opened its Disc Golf course for the season.
• Dog Parks: Dog parks are open all year from 7am until dusk.  
• • The interior areas of the dog parks are not plowed, shoveled, or salted. 
• Downhill Skiing: Groomed ski hills (with snowmaking) are available at Northampton((585) 349-0901) and Powder Mills Park((585) 586-1470), as conditions allow, during winter months.
  • ​Here are the brochures for Swain's Ski Resort's Learn To Ski & Snowboard at Northampton and Powder Mills Parks!
• Golf: Golf courses are located at Churchville, Durand Eastman, and Genesee Valley Parks.
  • Courses are open, as conditions allow, from early spring until early November.
• Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is popular at Durand Eastman, Irondequoit Bay Park West, and Mendon Ponds Parks.
  • Ice fishing is done at your own risk, and should not be done if ice thickness is not sufficient.  
• Ice Skating: Groomed natural-ice surfaces are available in Churchville and Highland Parks.  Ellison Park has a flooded parking lot surface.
  • Ellison Ice Rink
  • Churchville Ice Rink
  • Highland Ice Rink
  • Rinks are open, as conditions allow, during winter months. 
  • When ice conditions allow, rink hours are 10am until 10pm.  
  • Ice skating is not permitted elsewhere in the Monroe County Parks.
  • Equipment is not available for rent in any park.
  • Warming huts are available nearby the rinks at Churchville and Highland Parks.
  • Ice conditions will vary depending on weather.
  • Ice skating is done at your own risk.
• Off-Road Bicycling: Permitted only in Irondequoit Bay Park West and Tryon Park, and is strongly discouraged when trails are wet and/or muddy. 
• Sledding: Designated sledding hills can be found at Black Creek, Ellison, Mendon Ponds, Northampton, and Webster Parks.
  • Sledding in non-designated areas is not permitted. Please call Park Office for conditions.
• Snowshoeing: Snowshoeing is permitted on designated hiking trails, or in open fields, in any Monroe County Park.
  • Snowshoers should avoid walking on groomed cross country ski trails.  Instead, they should walk along side them.
  • Snowshoeing is done at your own risk.
• Swimming: Swimming at Ontario Beach is open daily from 11am-7pm(dependent on conditions) from Friday June 26, 2020 through and including Labor Day (September).
• Tennis and pickleball: Nets at Churchville, Ellison, Greece Canal, Ontario Beach, and Webster Parks go up for the season around May 1st and stay up until around October 31st.

Seasonal Flyers:

• Spring/Summer/Fall Activities:  Click here for a flyer about Spring/Summer/Fall activities.
• Winter Activities: Click here for a flyer about Winter activities.

Special Use Permits

• Please click here for Special Use Permit Applications

Examples of Special Use include:

• Charity and other Runs, Bike Rides, Walks
• Open to the Public Fundraisers/ Charity Events/ Awareness Events
• Races (Snowshoe, Road, Trail, Bike, Triathlons, large XC Meets, etc.)
• Festivals, Fairs, Carnivals, Expos, public Picnics
• Concerts
• Summer Camps
• Fishing Derbies
• Large, public, outdoor recreation events (e.g. orienteering)
• Military , Police, Fire, Ambulance Trainings
• Memorial Events (Fred Doug, AIDS, Workers, Victims, Vietnam Vets
• Ticketed Events
• Religious Ed/ Info Booths
• Regattas/ Boat races
• Markets
• Large Company picnics
• Large or Open to the Public Fundraiser picnics
• Horse events/ Rides
• Commercial and Student Film/Photo Shoots
• Wellness Events/ Festivals
• Music events (e.g. Drum Corps) and Theater performances
• Motorcycle rides and Car Shows
• Food Truck events
• Other (e.g. Model Flying Field Events, Ham Radio Event, Public Safety awareness Event)
• Public programs, classes, Hikes, Tours,Trail runs, Walking classes/groups, Birding hikes, Canoe/ kayak “hikes”
• Exercise classes, Yoga, Boot camp, Running training, Fitness training, HikYoga, Disc Golf tournaments, Bike demo days
• Large Athletic/ Sports Tournaments
• Large Scout Camping Events (e.g. Klondikes, Camporees)
• Education/ Environmental Ed Events
• Sports leagues, Kickball, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Wiffleball, Soccer, Rugby, Cricket

Monroe County Parks: By the Numbers

• 12,000 Acres
• 21 Parks
• 32 Athletic Fields
• 300 Special Events 
• Endless miles of trails
• 1 Conservatory
• 1 Public Campground
  • 46 Campsites
• 4 Scout/Youth Camping Areas
• 2 Dog Parks
  • ​with reciprocal access to 3 additional dog parks 
• 2 Arboretums (Durand and Highland)
• 2 parks for Off-road cycling 
• 1 Beach for Swimming
• 4 Canoe and Kayak launches 
• 1 Fish hatchery (Powder Mills) 
• 1 Model airplane flying field (Northampton) 
• 5 parks with Pickleball courts 
• 4 parks with Tennis courts 
• 6 parks with Designated Sledding Hills 
• 2 parks with Downhill Skiing 
• Endless Fishing
• 3 parks with Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails
• 2 Disc Golf Courses 
• 3 parks with Golf Courses
  • 5 Courses
  • 81 total Holes
• ​3 Ice Skating Rinks 
• 1 Working/Educational Farm (Springdale Farm) 
• 1 Bird Sanctuary (Wild Wings, Inc.)