Employer Profile

What We Are

Genesee Waterways Center is a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to the individual and community benefits of paddling and rowing. Over our 30-year history, the GWC has been Greater Rochester’s champion for recreational paddling and competitive rowing.

What We Do and How We Do It

Genesee Waterways Center offers a wide array of paddling and rowing activities for residents and visitors, including flat water kayaking and canoeing, whitewater paddling, and recreational and competitive rowing. We offer these opportunities through rentals, classes, camps, events and outings, customized group experiences, and more. Some offerings are fee-based; others are free of charge.

Why We Do It

We believe that getting on the water provides and improves individual and community well-being. The benefits of paddling and rowing include better physical health and fitness, and better mental health that comes from physical activity, positive social interactions, and experiences in nature.

Who Does It

Our target participants include urban, suburban, and rural residents of our community; visitors to our community; all ages and backgrounds; all experience and skill levels. We invite individuals, families, groups and organizations, and any others to get on the water with us! We especially strive to get City of Rochester youth and families on the water!

Our organization is staffed by an Executive Director, a Rowing Coordinator, a Whitewater Coordinator, and a legion of seasonal employees that assist with our on-water and organizational programs and operations. A Board of Directors oversees and guides the work of the GWC.

We also partner proactively with community organizations such as the City of Rochester Department of Recreational and Human Services, Genesee River Watch, and many local rowing clubs and organizations.

Where We Do It

Genesee Valley Park, City of Rochester

The headquarters and hub of the Genesee Waterways Center is in the City of Rochester, New York, at 149 Elmwood Avenue. The GWC is right on the Genesee River in historic Genesee Valley Park.

The Genesee Waterways Center facilities on the riverside includes our canoe and kayak rental liveries, rowing scull storage and staging spaces, and seasonal docks.

Just upriver from the GWC is the fascinating intersection of the Genesee River and Erie Canal— a unique spot that makes for memorable paddling and rowing!

What’s more, the GWC is amidst an amazing junction of regional recreational land trails* that come together in Genesee Valley Park—the Empire State Trail, Erie Canalway Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park, and the City of Rochester’s Genesee Riverway Trail. (See our Resources page for more about these trails, the park, etc.!)

* We say “land trails” because we consider the Genesee River, Erie Canal, and other waterways to be “water trails”, or “blueways”.

Erie Canal Lock 32 Paddling Center, Town of Pittsford

About seven miles east of our Rochester headquarters, in the Town of Pittsford at 2797 Clover Street, is our Lock 32 Paddling Center. Like the GWC site, Lock 32 is truly unique— it features a human-made whitewater rapids section, created when water was routed around the 25-foot elevation of the lock!

In season, Lock 32 offers whitewater paddling classes and experiences, along with kayak and canoe rental for the flatwater parts of the Erie Canal that are accessible east and west of the Lock. Some flatwater paddling outings from Lock 32 can include the thrilling experience of going up or down in the Lock!

When We Do It

Our paddling and rowing opportunities are offered between May through October; our rowing and whitewater programs also offer indoor winter learning and training opportunities (e.g. gym work, practicing in indoor pools, etc.)