Rochester Historic Parks Survey 2009

The scope, breadth, and depth of this landscape survey for the first time provide the essential historic context that should not only lead to the designation of the entire Olmsted‐designed park system to the National Register of Historic Places, but should also inspire a dialogue about the future prospect of National Historic Landmark (NHL) designation. Although there are only 60 or so NHLs with significance in Landscape Architecture at the time of this writing (out of some 2,700 properties), the multiple areas of significance for the Rochester/Olmsted design legacy make for a powerful argument. Where else is the development of the horticultural industry; Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr.’s own involvement in a park system’s design; the involvement of all three Olmsted’s spanning a 31‐year tenure all present but here in Rochester?