New Programming and Amenities Coming to Downtown’s Washington Square
Summer in the Square kicks off June 13 with food trucks, live music, and a community celebration, supported through a Community Placemaking Grant by Project for Public Spaces.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — June 3, 2025 — New activities are coming to Washington Square Park in downtown Rochester this summer. Thanks to a Community Placemaking Grant awarded by Project for Public Spaces with funding from General Motors, Rochester’s historic downtown park will undergo small-scale, temporary improvements and feature new weekly programming beginning this June.
The grant, awarded in 2024, supports enhancements like seating, shade structures, plantings, and signage that aim to make the park more inviting and well-utilized. These amenities—developed through a yearlong collaborative community engagement process—are set for a public debut in June 2025.
Partners on the project include the City of Rochester, Washington Square Community Association, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC), Ken Marvald – CDC of Upstate NY, a robust Community Advisory Committee of area stakeholders, and Project for Public Spaces, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating vibrant public spaces through community-led design.
In celebration of the new amenities, RDDC is launching Summer in the Square, a new series of free community events beginning June 2025 and running through August 2025.
Summer in the Square Programming Lineup
Fitness in Washington Square
Wednesdays, June 11 – August 20 (No event July 2) | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Get moving downtown with free weekly fitness classes in the park, presented in partnership with Vault Rochester. From yoga to HIIT and bodyweight bootcamps, each session is led by certified instructors and welcomes all levels. Registration is recommended but not required.
Food Truck Fridays in Washington Square
Fridays, June 13 – August 22 (No event July 4) | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Take a summer Friday lunch break and enjoy a rotating lineup of 11 local food trucks, lawn games, and live music curated by Local Sound Collaborative. Whether you're grabbing lunch or just enjoying the scene, Food Truck Fridays offer a flavorful, music-filled break in the heart of downtown.
Project partners will kickoff the season on Friday, June 13 during the first Food Truck Friday. The event will feature live music, lawn games, food trucks, and remarks at 12:30 PM.
The project supports placemaking goals outlined in the Rochester 2034 Comprehensive Plan and builds on past community visioning, including the Washington Square Community Association’s 2018 charette. Future, long-term recommendations documented through the community engagement process are available on the project website, and additional project features will be added later this summer.
For more information and a full event schedule, visit https://rochesterdowntown.com/washingtonsquare
“Washington Square Park has long been a cherished public space, and this initiative marks an exciting new chapter in its story. These improvements and programs reflect the ideas and energy of our community, and we’re proud to see them come to life. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when residents, partners, and organizations come together with a shared vision for downtown.”
- Washington Square Community Association Board
"This grant has provided a wonderful opportunity for a sanctuary from the pace and pressure of city life, increasing engagement and wellbeing for SUNY Brockport REOC students. Engagement with Washington Square; its open landscape near creative and business activity, is an experiential learning opportunity for students to relax, take a break from course work and enjoy the park."
- Ann Best, SUNY Brockport REOC Academic Affairs
“We are thrilled to offer our fitness classes in Washington Square this summer. Events and programming like this help our small business gain new customers and build on the great community we have here today. We love downtown and our community and are happy to be able to workout in our great downtown even more this summer.”
- Stephanie Green, Founder, VAULT Rochester
“The live music scene is so robust in Rochester—it perfectly complements the vast food and beverage offerings in our area. We are delighted to be part of Food Truck Fridays in Washington Square, showcasing some of our city’s most talented musicians to folks who love diverse tastes in music. You can expect anything from folk, R&B, Americana, soul, funk, and more.”
– Ray Mahar, Executive Director, The Local Sound Collaborative
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About Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC)
RDDC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1977. Its mission is to drive economic vitality in downtown Rochester. RDDC accelerates downtown development by positioning and marketing assets that attract businesses and investment, and it catalyzes innovative ideas that make downtown a more vibrant and inclusive community. In 2020, RDDC built The Commissary, the region’s first and only food business incubator and shared kitchen.
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