| Manhattan Square is a modern urban park surrounded by high-rise apartment buildings, a major museum, and office towers. Constructed in the '70s, the park's major features include a towering steel viewing platform and a sunken fountain area with a concert stage designed for free outdoor concerts. Each summer the park is the site for a wide variety of concerts highlighted by nationally known performers. In winter months Manhattan Square Park features a popular outdoor ice skating rink and sledding on its many small hills.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan Square neighborhood is more than just a park. The adjacent Strong Museum is one of the preeminent children's museums in North America, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to its interactive exhibits and collections of everyday American artifacts. The neighborhood also features 576 apartments in high-rise towers, as well as an indoor tennis club.
To search for commercial office space, residential rental units, and a wide variety of service and amenities and entertainment options in the neighborhood, check out the
Manhattan Square entry in the Interactive Map.
History
Prior to the urban renewal demolition of the sixties and prior to the
construction of the sunken Inner Loop, the area occupied by Manhattan Square
was a part of a residential neighborhood of houses and tenements that linked
downtown to the Alexander/East area. Their demolition created the open space
that is now occupied by the Park, the Strong Museum and the residential high
rises.
Future
The recent renovation of the ice skating rink and plans for the arrival of ESL and PaeTec world headquarters at neighboring sites promises an infusion of energy and excitement into the area.
Festivals
Any depiction of life in downtown Rochester would be incomplete without a reference (in this case a hyperlink) to the innumerable festivals enjoyed by our residents. They include: the Rochester International Jazz Festival; the Corn Hill Festival (arts, crafts, and foods spread throughout this historic, riverside neighborhood); the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival (held annually at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre and the downtown Little Theatre); the Image Out/ Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (hosted annually at the Little Theatre); the Clothesline Festival (artists from the region and beyond on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery); the Park Avenue Merchants Festival (another local favorite that covers Park Avenue from Culver to Alexander); the Lilac Festival (world famous for its hills and dales of lilac bushes, this Festival also boasts top-shelf music and shopping); the Rochester Music Festival (a reflection of the changing music scene, the Music Festival is ever-evolving); and the Cold Rush Winter Celebration. (The Cold Rush highlights the wide range of activities available across four seasons in our region). Want to get an even closer look at what's driving the excitement about downtown living? Join this year's Inside Downtown Tour! |
