Our August 2026 Update

We're pleased to report that there are now a few more places to stop and comfortably take a seat in downtown Rochester.

29 more to be exact!

That's how many benches we were able to restore or refurbish in August 😎.

Two of these benches have found new homes in the St. Paul Quarter, two more will soon be installed on Pleasant Street, and 25(!) were revitalized in-place in the courtyard at Main & Gibbs, outside the Eastman School of Music's Miller Center.

Thank you to Mario Howell for refurbishing 4 City benches for return to the public realm

We take a lot of pride in these restoration projects. Every bench is scraped and sanded before being stained or painted (always two coats!). Footers and arm rails are coated a glossy black to protect them from the elements, as well as add that final "pop" for that brand-new look.

The effort at Miller Center was particularly challenging, as we navigated around the daily use of this beautiful courtyard, finishing just before students returned. Phew! 😅

Some of the 25 benches restored at Main & Gibbs

Benches aside, we continued our cleanup and beautification efforts, helped in large part by a growing number of volunteers who truly care about their community.

We're humbled by how many people and groups are rolling up their sleeves to help us build a better downtown. Whether it's picking up litter, weeding, or watering, every little bit makes a BIG difference.

Most importantly, it sends a clear message that someone cares for these spaces. And that spirit is contagious!

Thank you to Roc City Rotary

One of the ways we've been able to build on this momentum, and to expand our overall impact downtown, has been to intentionally place planters outside businesses that are willing to water them regularly.

Not sure why we didn't prioritize this 3-4 years ago, but better late than never, right?

Watering (and deadheading) is the not-so-secret sauce, so emphasizing locations with eager partners has made all the difference this summer!

Whatsmore, it's establishing a template to eventually scale this to virtually every storefront and building entrance in the center city.

I mean, why not dream big? Just look at the results...

Our planters are thriving due to regular watering

Well that's a wrap on this month's update.

But we're far from done this summer! In addition to even more bench restorations, and replacing fading annuals with dozens (and dozens) of mums, we're also commissioning a couple of cool public art projects 🎨.

We're even hosting a one-day, downtown-wide "busker fest" on September 26th as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival!

So if you want to keep up on what we're doing, please consider following us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

In the meantime, remember... Every day is an opportunity to make our city just a little bit better.

Gratefully,

-Mike & Tina Gilbert

We planted some "leftovers" in this tree well

Please consider becoming a Downtown ROCstar by supporting our efforts with a tax-deductible gift. Every dollar is invested directly into placemaking projects that enhance our center city.