Park Ave (Rochester, New York)

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Park Avenue took shape erratically in the mid-19th century as three separate streets: Park Avenue ran from Alexander Street to Goodman Street; Crescent Street ran between Vick Park A and B; and Bates Street ran from Barrington toward Culver Road. The three were joined in 1875 and renamed Park Avenue. James Vick, a successful horticulturalist, “seedsman,” publisher and businessman owned a business on East Avenue. Vick built Union Park Racetrack on his nursery’s land, and the track’s two straight-aways eventually became Vick Park A and B. (The curve in Park Avenue between the two streets was the racetrack’s southern end.)

The neighborhood was developed through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the homes were subsequently broken up into apartments. The East Avenue Preservation District, which includes Park Avenue, was established in 1969, eventually leading to a rebound in the area’s popularity. Park Avenue is today less racially and socioeconomically diverse than surrounding neighborhoods and has a large population of college students.

Park Avenue is one of Rochester's best-known neighborhoods for strolling and shopping in an urban environment. Traveling east from Meigs to Culver is home to an an eclectic mix of residential and commercial properties. The commercial density is greatest from the intersection of Edgerton Street to Culver. From Culver to Colby is the ABC Streets Neighborhood, which is quiet and residential. The area is home to several small parks and gardens, including Morrison Park, the Massaro Sculpture Garden, the Park Avenue Green, and Goodwin Park.

The Park Avenue Summer Art Festival is one of the city's largest art festivals. It takes place every year during the first weekend of August.