Downtown ROCs
@downtownrocs
We are a 501c3 non-profit that creates economic and artistic opportunities through projects that add beauty and energy to downtown #Rochester⚡️#ROC
Last weekend we restored four park benches by staining and painting them. Today, two of those benches were placed in downtown's St. Paul Quarter. You can't build a walkable city without places to stop and rest. So we will continue to revitalize and repurpose benches for return to the public realm.
The team at B+Healthy Fresh Food Market on Franklin Street downtown are some of the friendliest folks you’ll meet. So it was our pleasure yesterday to bring just little more color and sunshine to their already welcoming storefront.
This was a fun project yesterday. You could call it "The Leftovers", because we were able to utilize 19 flowers that were extras from earlier projects and were still in pots waiting for a home. We get a special satisfaction from finding ways to purpose every last plant. 🌸
Today we (belatedly) welcomed Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School to downtown Rochester by planting flowers outside their entrance at the corner of East and Main. It didn't take long for a praying mantis to take a shine to these delectable new additions. #ROC #placemaking
Today we placed another pair of planters outside a downtown Rochester building. These now grace the entrance to the historic Temple Building. Every flower we plant is an expression of our belief in the city and its people. A visible vote of confidence in its future… and its potential! #ROC
Some mornings are more challenging than others😟 Setbacks like this are of course frustrating and disheartening. But we will pick of the mess and replant, just like always. Because our commitment to cleaning and beautifying downtown Rochester is unwavering. #ROC #resilience
Today we expanded our range just a wee bit beyond downtown to help transform the 3 medians on University Ave at Atlantic Ave. We planted numerous native perennials which will come back year after year (bigger and better too!) #beforeandafter #ROC
This picture tells a story about our journey. In front, the 56th planter we've placed this year. In the background, our first mural commissioned last fall. And in between, a luscious tree that was just a spindly stick when it was planted at our request in 2019... Our very first act of advocacy.
We're always looking for ways to beautify downtown #Rochester, so when two very large planters were donated to us this past week, we jumped at the chance to fill them with flowers (and a whole lot of soil!) We hope these newest additions help put the "oooooh" in your Red, White and Blue 🇺🇸
We're proud to reveal the expansion of the Midge Thomas Community Garden at the corner of Clinton & Pleasant. This doubles the size of the first garden christened last summer in honor of Midge's 99th birthday. The pair of gardens now form a dramatic entrance to St. Joseph's Park. #beforeandafter
The most frequent question we hear is whether the flowers we plant will be vandalized. But this almost never happens. And when it does, we replace them as quickly as possible, sending a clear message that someone cares for this place. It's a simple idea, but one we think really matters. #ROC
No, you're not seeing double! Today we partnered with RTS to landscape BOTH sides of the St. Paul Street entrance to the downtown Transit Center. Our goal with this project was not only to beautify a key downtown gateway, but also to enhance the public transit experience for riders. #ROC
Off we go! Today we are partnering with RTS to landscape the St. Paul entrance to the downtown Transit Center. Check back later for the exciting results… rain or shine 😎
The empty window box planters adorning the apartment building at 132-140 Franklin Street have been teasing us for a couple of years now. So we finally did something about it! A couple of coco liners and a tray of petunias later, we've got another small win for downtown Rochester.
Our 36th planter of the season, this one outside one of our favorite downtown haunts, G&G Steakout.
Yesterday we added two new planters outside of 413 Church’s new home in the historic Temple Theater. We’re excited to welcome their congregation to downtown and add a little more beauty to Liberty Pole Way.
Another planter filled with flowers to help beautify downtown Rochester.
A little gift to our favorite downtown music venue, Abilene Bar & Lounge 🌸
In 1989, Margaret "Midge" Thomas commissioned a 3-headed brass water fountain for the @cityofrochester.bsky.social to represent liberty, equality and humanity. This week City crews placed the newly-repainted fountain in its rightful position... albeit for the first time without Midge in attendance 💔
For the second year in a row we partnered with the RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship (CUE) to plant flowers in the potters outside their downtown office. #beforeandafter #ROC
We alway enjoy the opportunity to repurpose useful items, so this weekend we are up-cycling 6 decommissioned concrete planters. At our request, the City of Rochester kindly moved them to the St. Paul Quarter, where we are planting them with flowers to enliven the streetscape.
It might not seem like much, but we placed two planters on either side of a large bench in St. Joseph’s Park. Notably, this sturdy wooden bench was recovered from the curb last year and we’ll soon be commissioning an artist to paint it with a mini-mural. #ROC #placemaking
We just made the Greyhound bus stop on Pleasant Street a little more... well, pleasant. These 3 wood planters were built by Boy Scouts and are now festooned with flowers for the season!
In continuation of our commitment to establishing St. Joseph's Park as both a beautiful space and a welcoming community resource, we've added 4 large planters at the entrance to the historic church ruins. Come see the transformation of this hidden gem of a park in downtown Rochester. #placemaking