City seeks input on future of Soldiers Field Park

Rochester Parks & Rec is revisiting its Soldiers Field master plan.

The plan, adopted in 2014, is set up to identify priorities and potential updates to the sprawling park over the next 10 to 20 years.

With the 2022 update, park officials hope to address a number of future possibilities, including a renovation to the pool house, a new picnic shelter, an additional tennis court, and an expanded trail network.

The planning process will also include an evaluation of the golf course, which accounts for 70 percent of the land area of Soldiers Field Park.

The 2014 master plan had recommended reducing the golf course from 18 to 9 holes to add other park amenities. At the time, however, the proposal was met with resistance from golfers and some neighbors.

For community members looking to provide feedback on the five-year update to the Soldiers Field master plan, the city has two options: a brief Polco survey and an interactive mapping tool, Social Pinpoint. Both engagement opportunities will be open through mid-January.

To pay for future improvements to the park, the city will rely on some funding from the park referendum approved in 2020.

Cover photo: File / Soldiers Field Golf Course