Manhattan Square Park

Rochester, New York

Designed by Lawrence Halprin

“Forms are drawn from nature but are abstracted in a man made way; nevertheless the final design is as enticingly tempting as a mountain brook.”
- Lawrence Halprin, Process Architecture, No. 4 (1978)

A pioneer in the field of Modern landscape architecture, Lawrence Halprin designed and executed the plans for Manhattan Square Park as part of downtown Rochester’s urban renewal during the early 1970s.

The amphitheater plaza, space-frame, berm garden, and promenade—all elements of Halprin’s original plan— remain intact today. The park has received renewed attention due to recent renovations of the play area and skating rink. However, if such improvements are carried out without a true understanding of the park’s significant design, they could threaten its most unique elements.

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education partners

Additional Sponsors

American Society of Landscape Architects’ Indiana, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Minnesota, Northern California, Texas, Upstate New York, and Washington Chapters • Astorino • Charles Butt • Design Within Reach • Topher Delaney • Sandy Donnell & Justin Faggioli • Fathom • Tom Fox • Hillman Foundation • Indianapolis Museum of Art • Lorraine Osmundson • Richard T. Murphy • National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Northeast, Southwest, and Western Offices- with funds from the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation of New York, Dodge Jones Foundation Intervention Fund, and Eastern Massachusetts Preservation Fund • James Richards • Seibert & Rice • Diana & Bruce Shuman • Ann Stack • SWA Group • TBG Partners • Michal and Jeffrey William Tincup • Unilock Inc. • The Woltz Charitable Trust


Manhattan Square Park Rochester, New York Designed by Lawrence Halprin Intro history threat help learn “Forms are drawn from nature but are abstracted in a man made way; nevertheless the final design is as enticingly tempting as a mountain brook.” - Lawrence Halprin, Process Architecture, No. 4 (1978) A pioneer in the field of Modern landscape architecture, Lawrence Halprin designed and executed the plans for Manhattan Square Park as part of downtown Rochester’s urban renewal during the early 1970s. The amphitheater plaza, space-frame, berm garden, and promenade—all elements of Halprin’s original plan— remain intact today. The park has received renewed attention due to recent renovations of the play area and skating rink. However, if such improvements are carried out without a true understanding of the park’s significant design, they could threaten its most unique elements. more...	Boston City Hall Plaza Boston, Massachusetts Estates Drive Reservoir Oakland, California Heritage Plaza Heritage Park Fort Worth, Texas Kaiser Roof Garden Kaiser Center Oakland, California Lake Elizabeth Allegheny Commons Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Manhattan Square Park Rochester, New York Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Kent, Washington Miller Garden Columbus, Indiana El Monte Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Pacific Science Center Courtyard Seattle, Washington Parkmerced San Francisco, California Peavey Plaza Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota Home \| Map \| Exhibit \| Artists \| Press
education partners Additional Sponsors American Society of Landscape Architects’ Indiana, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Minnesota, Northern California, Texas, Upstate New York, and Washington Chapters • Astorino • Charles Butt • Design Within Reach • Topher Delaney • Sandy Donnell & Justin Faggioli • Fathom • Tom Fox • Hillman Foundation • Indianapolis Museum of Art • Lorraine Osmundson • Richard T. Murphy • National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Northeast, Southwest, and Western Offices- with funds from the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation of New York, Dodge Jones Foundation Intervention Fund, and Eastern Massachusetts Preservation Fund • James Richards • Seibert & Rice • Diana & Bruce Shuman • Ann Stack • SWA Group • TBG Partners • Michal and Jeffrey William Tincup • Unilock Inc. • The Woltz Charitable Trust