Greece, New York

Introduction to Greece, New York

Greece, New York, in Monroe County, is 5 miles Northwest of Rochester and 64 miles East of Buffalo. The town benefits from easy access to the City of Rochester and surrounding towns in the Rochester metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095.

Greece History

• The Town of Greece was established by the State Legislature on March 22, 1822. It was initially known as Northampton and was a part of the Town of Gates.
• The town’s official flag was adopted at a meeting of the Town Council on August 17, 1954.  Centered in a field of white is a circular emblem, designed by J.S. Perticone and depicting the old lighthouse at the mouth of the Genesee River, which was built in 1822 – the same year the town was established.  The circle represents the shield of the warriors of Ancient Greece and the border is of characteristic Greek design.  Lightning flashes symbolize energy and strength and the colors – terra cotta, golden yellow and black – are those used in old Greece pottery and artistic decorations.
• The original cupola from the old town now stands in front of the Greece Historical Society on Long Pond Road.
• Dewey Avenue was named for Admiral George Dewey who fought in the Spanish-American War (1898-1899).  The Rochester City Council named the street after Dewey in late 1898.  The portion located in Greece was called Barnard Crossing until after WWI.

Amenities in Greece

Library

The Greece Public Library is part of the Monroe County Library System and receives more than 500,000 visits annually. A new main library facility was completed in 2000 and provides 35,000 square feet of space for books and other media used by the library patrons.

Community and Senior Center

Greece has its own Community and Senior Center located in the geographic center of the Town of Greece on Town Hall campus. This two story structure is approximately 35,000 sq. ft. This new center features a 7,800 sq. ft. gymnasium, senior citizen’s lounge, 4,530 sq. ft. multi-purpose room, art room, dance/activity room, programmed fitness area and walking track.

Recreation

The large expanse of undeveloped land and the more than 8 miles of shoreline along Lake Ontario is a natural habitat for many forms of wildlife. This abundance of natural land area provides many recreational opportunities for the residents of Greece.  Several bike trails are located within the Town, as well as trails along the New York State Erie Canal (formerly the Barge Canal) maintained by New York State. The Town’s bike trail stretches from the Canal to Lake Ontario.  Access can be obtained from Henpeck Park on Ridgeway Ave.& Elmgrove and Basil Marella Park, 975 English Rd.

Hunting

Deer, waterfowl and small game are hunted in the town. Shotgun (bird shot only) and bow hunting are restricted to specific areas.  For more information on how to obtain a hunting license please click here.

Parks

The Town maintains 17 park areas containing 764 acres of land. Of this, only 189 acres are currently developed, with the remaining lands to be used for passive recreation. Located within these 189 acres are 13 baseball diamonds, 10 soccer fields, 3 combination football/soccer fields, 8 basketball courts, 20 tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts 16 playgrounds, a skate park, 2 disc golf courses (1 18-hole and 1 9-hole), and several nature trails.