Of Benches, Birthdays, and Blue Cross Arena

The picture below is of two benches in the public space along the river side of Blue Cross Arena.

They are weathered and worn, moldy and mossy, rotting and rusting.

And they are not alone.

In fact, there are no less than 10 of these benches (ten!) along this short stretch of what is actually part of the Genesee Riverway Trail nestled between E. Broad Street and Court Street (known as War Memorial Terrace). Though in various states of disrepair, most of these benches look almost identical to the two shown here.

In stark contrast to their condition, however, this is the striking vista of downtown Rochester from those very same benches...

The juxtaposition is stunning.

You might say these benches are the best seat in the house. Except that you wouldn't want to actually sit on them.

Skyline views like this are part of what makes being downtown so energizing. This is a panoramic that any proud Rochesterian would objectively find breathtaking.

But, unfortunately, most residents have never seen the city from this vantage point because this area between the river and the arena is not particularly inviting, in large measure due to the condition of these 10 well-placed, but poorly-kept benches.

It's a space that should be a place.

Now I know there are some ambitious plans for this location, as part of a proposed arena renovation tied to the Roc the Riverway project, and I'm sure this will someday result in a completely new and exciting activation of this incredible riverfront promenade. Plans for a glassed-in expansion of the east side of the arena, however, were nixed last year, and with it the possibility of a restaurant overlooking the Genesee.

But there's no time like the present. So until these future plans come to fruition, we can take the bull by the horns and remake this space into a place!

And what better time to start than while the Rochester Americans are making a spring playoff run right next door?

You see, if the Amerks can complete their historic comeback and take the decisive Game 5 from Syracuse this Friday night in front of a sold-out War Memorial, it will ensure at least a couple more hockey nights in the ROC... and the chance for thousands more fans to wander through what is officially regarded (according to Google Maps) as "Blue Cross Arena Memorial Park".

So in the spirit of the occasion, and in the hopes that it might bring the home team a little extra juju, Downtown ROCs is going to immediately restore a closely-bunched trio of these benches nearest the steps leading up to Broad Street.

These first 3 benches will be painted (what else of course) red, white and blue respectively.

My wife and I will be tackling this project together this Wednesday, May 8th, in celebration of my birthday (I know, I'm a bit strange). So come on down and give us a "Go Amerks" if you're able. We'd love to meet you and know that this work is valued.

Or, if you can't make it Wednesday, I certainly hope you'll stop by on your way to the arena this Friday night. Take a seat on one of the benches for a minute or two, and soak up the sights and sounds of the city.

Just as they were originally intended for.

UPDATE (5/9/24):

We got 'em done!

Well, they didn't win, but at least some fans had a place to reflect after the game

UPDATE: Later in the summer, we painted the remaining 7 benches at War Memorial Terrace

POSTSCRIPT:

So Why Benches?

Truth-be-told, painting worn-down benches was not on our 2024 bingo card. But we've found so many opportunities to make an impact in so many different locations, just by adding a little splash of color, that we couldn't turn them down.

Moreover, making places where people can comfortably sit is Good Urbanism 101, and can have a real impact on the way people feel about a neighborhood. We've started to see this effect first-hand and are excited to be part of the solution.

Below are some examples of other benches we have restored recently, and that have added a little extra "pop" to the downtown streetscape...

Our first bench restoration outside the YWCA

Double benches in Bulls Head (Brown at W. Main)

A turquoise takeover at Main & Washington

To help ensure these benches hold up to wear and tear, we go through a 3-step process. First we sand them down to remove splinters and debris. Then we apply a thick coat (or two) of weather-resistant primer. Finally, we apply the final paint color(s), including a restorative black Rust-oleum to the iron footers.

As a result, the flag bench we painted early last summer looks as good today as the day it was painted! And the folks at the YWCA have said that the women there really enjoy being able to sit there now 😊

Special thanks to Mario Howell for his work on many of these restorations, which we'll be commissioning throughout the summer.

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