Cobbs Hill Park is a municipal park in Rochester, New York, United States. The park is part of Rochester's Olmsted park system and was developed following recommendations by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and the Olmsted Brothers firm. It is the only major park in Rochester that remains under city control rather than Monroe County jurisdiction.
The park encompasses the Cobbs Hill Reservoir, a active drinking water reservoir completed in 1908; Washington Grove, a old-growth forest; Lake Riley, a remnant of the historic Erie Canal; and extensive recreational facilities. In September 2025, the Rochester City Council unanimously designated the Cobbs Hill Park Preservation District, the first new historic preservation district in Rochester in 32 years.
The land comprising modern-day Cobbs Hill Park was named for Edna Cobb, who previously owned the property. In 1904, the City of Rochester purchased the hilltop for construction of a water reservoir. Construction of the Cobbs Hill Reservoir was completed in 1908, and George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, donated 15 acres crowning the hilltop to the city for park purposes.
In 1911, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. recommended that the city acquire the surrounding hills for park development. The following year, a group of citizens purchased of woodlandâÂÂnow known as Washington GroveâÂÂto prevent its conversion to a gravel pit.
In 1922, the park was significantly expanded after the relocation of the Barge Canal, funded through a combination of public donations and city appropriations. The expansion incorporated the former canal widewaters, which became Lake Riley.
During the New Deal, a refectory with cafeteria and observation deck was constructed in 1933, funded by federal relief programs. The refectory hosted thousands of visitors annually and featured a beacon that helped guide aircraft to the Greater Rochester International Airport.
During World War II, a portion of the park was converted to military use, serving successively as army barracks, a prisoner of war camp, and postwar soldier housing. In 1957, the city sold of parkland for the construction of Cobbs Hill Village, a senior housing complex.
In 1972, a portion of Cobbs Hill Park was designated as a local landmark under Rochester's preservation ordinance. On September 24, 2025, the Rochester City Council unanimously approved the creation of the Cobbs Hill Park Preservation District, encompassing approximately including both the park and Washington Grove. It was the first new historic preservation district established in Rochester in 32 years. The park has also been nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Cobbs Hill Reservoir, completed in 1908, has a capacity of and continues to actively supply drinking water to the City of Rochester. Water is sourced from Hemlock Lake, located approximately south of Rochester at a higher elevation.
A paved loop path around the reservoir is popular for walking and running and offers panoramic views of the Rochester skyline. The reservoir's granite gatehouse was designed by architect J. Foster Warner in Greek Revival style, featuring a wide portico with an ornate drinking fountain.
As an uncovered drinking water reservoir, the facility must comply with the EPA's Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) by November 2035.
Washington Grove is a old-growth oakâÂÂhickory forest located within the park boundaries. The grove has never been logged, and its trees range from 100 to over 200 years in age, with at least one documented specimen aged at more than 250 years.
The grove supports over 110 native plant species and 142 documented bird species. It is one of the few old-growth forest remnants found within the limits of a United States city.
On September 16, 2021, Washington Grove was inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national organization that identifies and protects old-growth forests across the United States.
Cobbs Hill Park includes a range of recreational facilities:
In September 2019, the park became the site of the first outdoor Fitness Court in New York State, a free-access outdoor fitness facility featuring seven exercise stations.