Morgan Barry

Friends of the GardenAerial (dba Greentopia)

Friends of the GardenAerial (FOG) is a non-profit organization formed in March of 2011. Dedicated to the sustainable redevelopment of Rochester, NY a former rustbelt city; the organization's aim is to revitalize the area known as the High Falls District into an EcoDistrict and area of green innovation, sustainability, tourism and recreation. High Falls is essentially considered the industrial birthplace of Rochester where the surging water powered by flourmills that surrounded falls. By all standards, it is a world-class site where a 96ft waterfall cascades down into the Genesee River Gorge, that is now located inside the city. This stunning natural asset has remained inaccessible to the community and has been dominated by industries for nearly 100 years. Today, the gorge is mostly abandoned, polluted, and largely forgotten by both residents and visitors alike. Early design conceptions propose the transformation of the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge into a highly designed two story Bridgehouse, build a new indoor winter botanical garden and pavilion, create a myriad of highly populated outdoor gardens resplendent with art and special seating area s and a new pedestrian bridge across High Falls and the Genesee River that would create a 3⁄4-mile-long loop aerial public park. The design of the new pedestrian bridge system would also directly connect this area to downtown's Center City along the river's edge for the very first time.