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With rolling hills of flowers and tall, stately trees, this haven of nature is small enough to hide right in the heart of Rochester, yet vast enough that one can lose themselves into the illusion of a vast forest. This rare gem is Highland Park.

From its founding in 1887, Highland Park was a unique gift to the Rochester community. The land of the park sits atop a glacial moraine, or hill built from the debris of receding glaciers. This unique geography gives it a character of its own, with meandering hills and valleys starkly compared to the surrounding land. As so, this area was recognized early on by two prominent Rochester landowners, George Ellwanger and Patrick Berry, who set it aside to preserve the land for generations to enjoy.

In addition to its prime location, Highland Park boasts a vast collection of plant life that transforms it from just a simple park. As one of the works of Frederick Law Olmstead, a landscape architect best known for his work in designing Central Park, each tree and flowering bush is carefully orchestrated to form the soul of the park.

The old park, or the original land donated, boasts a diverse set of landscapes. The pinetum, to the northeast, is characterized by tall, imposing evergreens- to walk here is to be immersed into the primeval northern forests of old. Moving to the south, the landscape shifts to rolling hills dotted with flowering trees. In the height of spring, rows of honeysuckles and witch hazels turn the landscape shades of purple, pink and yellow, and invite you to lose yourself into the vast colors.

The park is home to thousands of flowering bushes and trees, but none holds a higher place here than the lilac. Highland Park is home to over 600 varieties of lilacs, with colors from white, to purple, to tantalizingly misty shades of blue or pink. As the largest collection of lilacs in North America, the flowers have become part of the identity of Highland Park and the city of Rochester itself. Every year, the Flower City hosts tens of thousands of guests who pile into the park to enjoy the yearly Lilac Festival. Once a simple gathering of flower enthusiasts, the Lilac Festival now rivals the greatest of Rochester’s festivals, bringing in hundreds of vendors and well-known musicians from across the country.

Over the decades Highland Park has evolved and grown, adding new sections to delight visitors. The Warner castle, incorporated in the early 1900s, adds a medieval twist to the park- visitors can explore the grounds and the sunken garden. In the summer, the park hosts movie nights and other events in the Highland Bowl, and in the winter the brave can enjoy skating on the Lilly Pond while the warm-blooded explore the tropical Highland Conservatory.

This unique park, with its breathtaking natural beauty and its key spot in the center of the city, has rightfully taken its place with the hidden gems of Rochester. The park is a treasured gift from the Rochester founders of old and remains now to be enjoyed for many generations of natives and visitors alike.