Plans to Develop Rochester Into a Walkable City Discussed at Community Event
- Karen Ward-Wilder
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Reconnect Rochester hosted a community event Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Little Theatre featuring a screening of the PBS documentary Walkable USA, followed by a panel discussion with local leaders about efforts to make Rochester a more walkable city.
Mary Staropoli, co-executive director of Reconnect Rochester, delivered opening remarks before the film. The nearly hourlong documentary centers on the work of Boston-based city planner Jeff Speck and his efforts to help Hammond, Indiana, transition into a walkable city.
In the film, Rick Cole — chief deputy controller for the city of Los Angeles and former executive director of the Congress for New Urbanism — said Speck “has crystalized the most important element of what makes a town or city, which is, it has to work for someone walking.”
Speck outlined four elements he says every walkable city needs: “The walk has to be useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting — and you can’t just do three of them,” he said. His work inspired his book Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time.
The film concludes with Anne Anderson, executive director of planning and development in Hammond, expressing optimism that Speck’s plans are already helping shape the city’s future.
After the screening, panelists Galin Brooks, president and CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation; Shawn Dunwoody of Dunwoode Design and vice president of Hinge Neighbors; and Erik Frisch, deputy commissioner of neighborhood and business development for the city of Rochester, discussed local efforts.
Frisch highlighted the history of Rochester’s first bike lane and said plans are already underway to improve city walkability. He also referenced the Central City District (CCD) plan, which aims to foster a safe and vibrant 24-hour center city with residential, commercial, cultural, and entertainment uses. He expressed enthusiasm for the city’s Zone Alignment Project (ZAP), part of the ongoing updates to Rochester’s building code and design standards under the 2034 Comprehensive Plan.
Dunwoody emphasized the importance of youth in planning Rochester’s future, noting the value of parents bringing their children to civic events. “The City of Rochester needs smart streets, and we need to make sure people are safe when crossing the street,” he said. He urged planners to “listen and dig deeper into what people really want,” rather than move forward without understanding community needs.
Hinge Neighbors’ website highlights goals such as human-centered public spaces, respectable housing, inviting streetscapes, walkability, green spaces, and cultural activities — all considered hallmarks of downtown living.
Brooks noted the significant amount of housing downtown and said revitalization remains essential. RDDC’s mission includes helping downtown Rochester grow resilient, thriving, and inclusive communities.
Among the audience members was Dorian Hall, president of the PLEX (Plymouth-Exchange) Neighborhood Association. His mother, Dorothy Hall, a longtime community leader, formerly served as PLEX president and has been executive director since 2012. The organization is known for promoting education, neighborhood beautification, and community involvement among residents and students.
Hall said he attended to learn more about walkability efforts in Rochester, though he hoped the audience had been more diverse. He said he plans to share what he learned with PLEX members and other neighbors to ensure the community stays informed. Reducing four-lane roads to two lanes, he said, is one strategy that could slow traffic and improve safety.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Chaz Goodman, Reconnect Rochester’s marketing and outreach manager. Organizers described the event as informative and part of ongoing efforts to engage the community in shaping Rochester’s future as a walkable city.
Comments