Cobbs Hill Park is located just off of Monroe Avenue in the Upper Monroe Avenue Neighborhood. It is naturally split into two sections. The lower area has a pond called Lake Riley, baseball fields, and basketball courts, as well as pavilions that can be rented for group events. The upper part of the park has a separate entrance off Highland Avenue, and it contains the historic Cobbs Hill Reservoir, a beautiful view of the city, and a nifty Water Board building.
The reservoir is a great place for walking and running, with both an asphalt sidewalk and a one-way road all the way around. Public parking is available on the north side of the reservoir.
The county also maintains a radio tower atop Cobbs Hill, which is used for public safety communications.
To the east of the reservoir is Washington Grove. Covering approximately 100 acres, Washington Grove has a network of trails that winds through mature oaks and interesting topography. It’s also home to two abandoned water towers. The area is a popular place for dog walking (on-leash), but bicycles are prohibited.
Composed mostly of glacial deposits from about 12,000 years ago, Cobbs Hill is the beginning point of a set of hills which run for a few miles along Highland Ave through residential and commercial neighborhoods, including Pinnacle Hill (the highest point in Rochester). Public spaces in this range include Highland Park, Mt. Hope Cemetery and the University of Rochester Campus.
