Winter at Manhattan Square Park Viewing Platform by- Andrew88 Manhattan Square Park is is a small park located in the Manhattan Square Park Neighborhood of downtown Rochester, across from the Strong Museum. Prior to the urban renewal demolition of the sixties and construction of the 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. Constructed in the 1970s, the park's major features originally included a towering steel viewing platform and a sunken fountain area, but these are now both closed. There also was a small cafe and a concert stage that was used for free outdoor concerts - the original "Party in the Park."
Winter Months - Skating and Sledding The Manhattan Square Park Ice Rink is a popular feature open in winter months along with sledding on the park's small hills. The ice rink operates seven days a week and is generally open Thanksgiving through mid-March (weather permitting). Skates can be rented but many bring their own skates. There is a fee to use the ice most times but there are some free open skate times weekly.
Ice rental is also available for parties and community groups. Call (585) 428-7541 or check the city website first for hours and fees if you're planning on going. Summer Months - Playground and Green Space There was a good bit of construction going on in/around the park starting back in late 2000's which included installing a small but very cool playground.
The new playground has 2 big geometric rope/metal climbing frames, 2 long tube slides, 2 hills covered with super-grippy rubber for easy climbing, what looks like a sprinkler (shaped like a cattail plant) and a neat periscope (with audio!) on top of one hill. Manhattan Square Lodge After undergoing renovations, the lodge by the skating rink reopened in January 2013 as a space for parties and events. It seats 200 people and has a full kitchen.
The park also has benches popular with downtown office workers at lunchtime. Awards Manhattan Square Park was voted "Best Playground" in City Newspaper's 'Best Of' Awards in 2008.1 Notes and References Find a Geocache - someone placed a Geocache in Manhattan Square Park 1http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/2008/11/BEST-OF-ROCHESTER-2008-Readers-choice/