Genesee Valley Park, Rochester NY

Friends recommended the playground at Genesee Valley Park this summer and we finally made a visit.

This is a Monroe County park on the banks of the Genesee River where it connects to the New York State Barge Canal. Also Rt. 390 cuts through the middle of it.

We had a little trouble finding which section of the park contains the playground -- should have checked the map first --  but it was easy to find once we got the right entrance. (We came in from Elmwood Ave. and the turn is just directly opposite the entrance to the University of Rochester).

The playground at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester NY

The Good: The play structures are excellent!


There is a big structure for older kids, which is actually quite toddler friendly. It has a ramp and stairs that are easy to climb and the bridge has railings all the way to the floor, a nice safety feature. The slides are too high for little ones, but it offers plenty of other activities.

Play structure for older kids at Genesee Valley Park.

Older kids' play structure from the other side.

My 5-year-old loved that the monkey bars are low enough for her to reach.

Monkey bars are under the bridge.

The play structure for ages 2 to 5 is smaller, but also nice. The mulch is running a little low so my 2-year-old needed help getting down at the bottom of the slides, but she still enjoyed playing on it.

Preschool playground structure at Genesee Valley Park.

The playground has two toddler swings and two rigid swings for older kids, all on one frame. The map shows a bathroom near the parking lot, just a short walk from the playground.

The Bad: No shade. No benches. None at all!!

This seems crazy in a park so full of shade trees and huge shady pavilions. Did nobody think to put a little something near the playground? It all alone in a wide open field under the scorching sun. This would not be a pleasant place to hang out at noon in mid-summer.

 Overall: Excellent playground, just bring sun hats.

Or do what we did, which is to take a break in the shadier areas of the park -- which are many.

Nice paved paths (stroller- and bicycle-friendly) lead to the Genesee River and the canal. And unlike typical canal paths, these are a good distance from the edge of the water so I was slightly less worried about the kids falling in.