Back in the Saddle Again
Near the end of August, I was making great progress on my park quest, sometimes knocking off six or seven parks a week. But that came to a screeching halt when school started after Labor Day, and my full-time job began to consume most of my time. That, coupled with a family obligation that took me out of town three weekends in a row, meant that my quest had to be put on the back burner for a while.
But that ended this morning, when I took advantage of a beautiful, cooler autumn morning to visit three more parks ... before I had to head out of town again.
King's Bend Park, Pittsford
King’s Bend Park is a 15-acre park located on Jefferson Road between Clover Street (Rt. 65) and South Main. It’s very near the south side of the canal, and is named after a bend the original Erie Canal made around an obstacle at that location.
King’s Bend Park is best known for its two very nice, winterized lodges, both of which have full kitchen facilities, fireplaces and outdoor picnic tables and grills. A large expanse of lawn sits between the two lodges, plenty of room for frisbee games, family soccer matches and football games. A separate picnic table and grill is set to the side of this lawn for anyone who wants to come for a picnic and is not part of a lodge event.
There’s a nice large playground located closer to the north lodge, and a .25-mile long gravel path which encircles both lodges and the lawn.
The park also features two large, peaceful ponds. You can't walk around them, but the gravel path takes you close to the fence, and a few strategically placed benches invite sitting and contemplating.
Habecker Fields
Habecker Fields, located on East Street off of Rt. 96 east of the village of Pittsford, was named after former Pittsford Village Clerk and beloved Little League coach James Habecker, who died in 1984 at age 62 after a brief illness. Fittingly, the park is devoted to baseball.
The park features three well-manicured ball fields, two for Little League and one for T-ball. There’s a batting cage and a concession stand and plenty of parking. And that’s about it.
Toward the back of the park is an open field with several run-down backstops, which is probably the preferred place for pick-up neighborhood ball games. But if someone hits a long fly, watch out for the white vent pipes, which are placed throughout the field and which indicate to me that the area is a former landfill.
Before I left I noticed a signpost near this field with a sorry-looking map that said something about a Great Embankment Hiking Loop. I didn't have a chance to investigate this further when I was there, but have since done a little more investigation. There is a trail which can be accessed at Habecker Fields and runs along the Great Embankment. I’ll have to take my bike out there again soon.
Vincent G. Kennelly Park
I have a problem with Fairport. Every time I go into that village, I fall in love with it. If I didn't feel such a strong connection with Webster, I would move there in a heartbeat.
Vincent G. Kennelly Park is a prime example of why that happens. This little pocket park, named after the former village mayor, is simply charming. For starters, it sits on the canal, which has such beauty which makes it a destination unto itself. There’s a large gazebo, which hosts regular summer concerts.
There are several canal-side benches and tables, and the whole area is nicely paved with bricks, making the park look like something out of Tom Sawyer. Not to mention, the main entrance to the Fairport Public Library is located here.
So, on a nice summer evening you can sit along the canal with a good book, listen to the church bells and train whistles in the distance, watch the canal boats and kayakers slide past, and see the historic (and world-record-holding) lift bridge operate. Ice cream, restaurants and pubs are just steps away, and of course the canal path beckons hikers and bikers with promise of more beauty and charm.
There’s some on-street parking, but plenty of space in two nearby community lots, behind the library and across Main Street. I definitely recommend you stop by this little park next time you’re in Fairport. It’s a great place to pause and reflect on like for a little bit.
