Advocates Push to Rename Rochester State Park
Supporters want the planned park named Ga'sgöhsagöh, a Haudenosaunee term meaning 'at the waterfall.'
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in National Parks
Live Poll
Should Rochester's new state park be named to honor Indigenous history?
Advocates have started a Change.org petition with more than 800 signatures asking that Rochester's planned state park be renamed Ga'sgöhsagöh. The state said it will explore the proposed name change as the park plan moves forward.
Why it matters
Supporters argue the name would honor the falls' heritage and address Indigenous invisibility in local place names. They also say it would be more distinct and marketable than the existing High Falls State Park in Georgia.
The park covers 85 acres and includes roughly 5 miles of paved pathways, six overlooks, and three restroom buildings. Whether the state will adopt the Ga'sgöhsagöh name has not been decided.
The players
Haudenosaunee
The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, are an Indigenous confederacy whose language gave the falls their proposed name.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The state agency responsible for developing and managing New York's state parks, including the planned High Falls park in Rochester.
The details
The petition, hosted on Change.org, is collecting signatures to rename the park after the Haudenosaunee term for the falls. Advocates note that Lake Ontario and the Genesee River also carry Indigenous-origin names, and that the state is still weighing the proposal.
Timeline
Nov. 4, 2026: Draft scoping document released for public review.
Nov. 18, 2026: Registration deadline for virtual public sessions.
Nov. 19, 2026: First virtual public webinar at 6 p.m.
Nov. 20, 2026: Second virtual public webinar at 11 a.m.
Dec. 4, 2026: Deadline for written comments on the draft scope.
Seasonal Patterns
The planned park is being developed in stages over the coming years, with the first phase being a reimagined High Falls Terrace Park. Its naming debate sits alongside the state's 2014 finding that 87% of history standards omitted Native American history after 1900.
Residents who want to weigh in can register for the virtual webinars by Nov. 18 or send written comments to DeVeaux Woods State Park by Dec. 4. The park is expected to open in stages over the coming years, so visitors should expect changes over time.
The takeaway
Public input is open through Dec. 4, 2026, giving residents a direct route to shape how the park is named and developed. Joining the upcoming webinars or sending written comments is the most direct way to be heard.
What happens next
Virtual public webinars are scheduled for Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, 2026, with written comments due Dec. 4, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more on the National Parks section for context on how state parks are named and planned.
More information
To register for sessions or submit written comments on the draft scope, email the High Falls park planning team.
Live Poll
Should Rochester's new state park be named to honor Indigenous history?
