Friends of Washington Grove, Inc.

The Friends of Washington Grove Inc. works to enhance this old growth forest remnant. We invite YOU to both participate in this work and learn more about this hidden gem. We are an all-volunteer organization that has, for over ten years now, worked with the City of Rochester as stewards of Washington Grove. We depend on the efforts of volunteers like you to continue this work. We work to maintain this jewel as a place of delight and healing for all who visit it. We seek to heed the 1935 call of the then principal of Rochester’s Washington Junior High School wrote, “The Grove is a beautiful woods upon a wonderful hill. It is a haven for birds and small animal life. It’s a place for ferns and flowers of the wooded dell. It speaks to you of a wonderful past, it begs you to make it a glorious future for people to enjoy. What Washington Grove will become depends on your present consideration and your thoughtful care.”

In 2121 we were delighted that Washington Grove was inducted into the National Old Growth Forest as Monroe County's best representative of old growth forest in a ceremony highlighted by our Mayor and a representative from the national network. We continue to plant native trees, shrubs and groundcovers, a remove their invasive competition. We also maintain trails and entries.

The Friends of Washington Grove help manage Washington Grove, a park owned by the City of Rochester. We encourage its sustainable use as an old growth forest and support the City’s management goals for this park. We seek to educate youth from across the city about this gem, to inform park visitors and the community about the ecology and history of this valuable resource. We work with the city to remove invasive plants, we plant and encourage the growth of native species, and we improve trails and entries. We depend on the help of volunteers to do this valuable work.