Reflecting on a Year of Growth: Greentopia’s 2025 Impact & What Comes Next

As we enter the holiday season, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every supporter, volunteer, partner, and neighbor who stood alongside Greentopia this year. Your belief in our mission — and your moral and financial support — helped us reach important milestones that continue to uplift Rochester’s youth and strengthen the High Falls community.

Here’s a look back at what we achieved together in 2025:

1. We piloted our first Green Visions Winter Program.

For the first time, we extended Green Visions into the colder months — hosting a Winter Program in our newly renovated and beautifully decorated training center at 188 Whitney. This expanded programming allowed us to create year-round support and stability for our youth trainees.

2. Our partnership with Rochester Works deepened our impact.

With continued support from Rochester Works, our Navigator ensured every Green Visions youth received individualized guidance, resources, and stability—not only during the program, but for a full year after graduation. This ongoing support is essential to helping young adults build strong foundations for their futures.

3. We created more inclusive opportunities for disabled youth.

We continued our strong partnership with Edison Tech while expanding meaningful volunteer opportunities with Holy Childhood. This year, we were proud to welcome even more disabled young people to our gardens — giving them hands-on experience, purpose-driven tasks, and a place to grow.

4. We brought the community together on the Pont de Rennes Bridge.

In July, we celebrated our theme “An Oasis Awaits” with a return to the bridge — joined by New York State Deputy Parks Commissioner Randy Simmons and lead designers from OLIN. Their presence highlighted the shared vision and excitement surrounding the future High Falls State Park. Next year… maybe even the Governor?

5. We helped gather community insights for the High Falls BID.

This summer, Greentopia supported the High Falls Business Improvement District by conducting a district-wide survey to understand the needs of those who live, work, and visit the area. With the help of a dedicated intern, we collected over 280 responses, offering valuable data that will directly inform the BID’s new strategic plan.
👉 You can view the survey summary here.

6. We continued our work as part of the Park Advisory Committee.

In October, the much-anticipated Formation Plan for High Falls State Park was revealed. We encourage everyone to visit the project website to view the plan and share feedback through the public survey. Your voice matters in shaping the future of this transformative urban park.
🔗 https://highfallsstateparkny.com/

Looking Ahead

As we close out a busy and meaningful year, Greentopia is entering its own strategic planning phase — mapping out our goals and priorities for the next three to five years. We are excited to continue deepening our roots in the community and expanding opportunities for Rochester’s youth.

This work is possible because of people like you.

We’re honored to share that a generous board member has challenged us to match a $10,000 donation during this year’s Annual Appeal. This means every dollar you give will go twice as far in strengthening our programs, creating more youth employment opportunities, and supporting the future of High Falls.

Join us in meeting the match — and growing something meaningful together.