Swillburg News
We hope you are enjoying your summer! It’s been a busy few months around the neighborhood, and we’ve got lots to share—from exciting updates to recent community highlights you might have missed. Whether you’ve been out and about or laying low, this edition is your chance to catch up on all the local buzz.
And that’s not all—there’s plenty to look forward to! We’ve rounded up a list of upcoming events, important dates, and opportunities to connect, volunteer, and celebrate together. So grab your calendar and a cool drink, and let’s dive into what’s been going on—and what’s coming up next!
Recent Highlights
Bloom Garden Clean Sweep & Flower Planting:
On May 3rd, our neighborhood joined in Rochester’s annual Citywide Clean Sweep—and despite the rain, the spirit of Swillburg shone through! As part of this city-sponsored event, we focused our efforts on tidying up the Bloom Garden and the vibrant murals along Pembroke Street. About 10 neighbors, joined by a busload of 10 high school students, came out to help weed, rake, and clear away trash. Their work was key in preparing the garden beds for what was to come.
Just a few weeks later, on May 24th, the city delivered an early surprise—our flower and mulch order was ready for pick-up sooner than expected. That didn’t stop Swillburg! Volunteers sprang into action, hauling 30 bags of mulch and dozens of flower flats from Greece back to the neighborhood. Another dedicated group of about 8 volunteers returned to finish weeding, plant flowers, and lay down all the mulch—even as Rochester delivered yet another rainy morning.
Thanks to all of our incredible volunteers, the Bloom Garden and Pembroke murals are now looking their very best. We’re so grateful for your time, energy, and love for this community!
Neighbors In Action Grant:
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Swillburg Neighborhood Association received a $10,000 Neighbors In Action Grant (NIA). The grant provides funds for lumber and soil to create new garden beds at School 35, food and a bounce house for Swillburg Pig Party, expenses for 3 summer concerts at Otto Henderberg Park, space rental and food for Paddle and Picnic, and Swillburg Fall Festival space rental and food.
About Neighbors in Action (NIA):
Built on the foundation of Rochester’s nationally recognized Neighbors Building Neighborhoods, NIA empowers residents to come together and take purposeful action toward strengthening and improving their neighborhoods. The word “Nia” (pronounced NEE-uh) translates to “Purpose” in Swahili, and is a core principle of Kwanzaa, encouraging both individuals and communities to find and pursue collective goals. The City of Rochester, with partners ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation, provides funding for such initiatives as community gardens, public art projects, youth programs, neighborhood cleanup events, and block parties.
School 35 United Way Day of Caring & New Planters:
On May 21st, the United Way of Rochester hosted its annual Day of Caring, and once again, Swillburg showed up with helping hands and big hearts. Each year, our neighborhood gathers a team of volunteers, Librarians from the University of Rochester, to clean up and prepare the community garden beds located at School 35—and this year was no different. Volunteers tackled old growth, removed tired soil, and refreshed the beds with clean, nutrient-rich soil—giving the garden a great head start for the growing season. After finishing up the gardens at School 35, they headed over to do some work at the Labyrinth Garden.
In even more exciting news, thanks to the NIA grant recently awarded to Swillburg, several community members stepped up to purchase new lumber and supplies to replace the aging garden beds that were beginning to rot and fall apart. If you’ve passed by the garden lately, you’ve likely noticed three brand-new wooden boxes already in place! The plan is to gradually replace all 12 plots by the end of the fall, creating a stronger, more sustainable space for our neighborhood gardeners to enjoy for seasons to come.
A big thank you to our Day of Caring volunteers and everyone who’s pitched in to make this transformation possible!
Pig Party:
On June 15th, Swillburg came together for one of our favorite annual traditions—the Swillburg Pig Party—held at Otto Henderberg Park. This beloved event is all about celebrating our amazing neighborhood and building connections across the community. And this year’s gathering did not disappoint!
Neighbors enjoyed free food provided by local favorite Dog Town, including a wildly popular build-your-own Garbage Plate station (because, really—who can resist?). To top it off, there was free ice cream, live music from the talented duo Almost Maybe, and a wide variety of kids' activities, with the new bounce house stealing the show as the highlight for our youngest attendees. We were again able to host such a wonderful event with no cost to our neighborhood due to the NIA grant.
We were also thrilled to welcome some very special guests—an RPD officer on mounted patrol (with his horse, Chase) and a crew from the Rochester Fire Department, who gave families a tour of their fire truck and handed out firefighter hats to the kids.
With perfect Rochester weather and an estimated 100 neighbors in attendance, it was a joyful afternoon filled with food, laughter, music, and community spirit. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this day such a success—we’re already looking forward to next year!
Save the Dates!
Summer Music Series:
After the great time we had with Roc Samba last summer in Otto Henderberg Park, we’re excited to share that—by popular demand—we're turning it into a full summer music series!
Thanks to support from the city's NIA Grant, we’ll be hosting live music in the park on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30-7:30pm:
August 20 – Kenny Foster’s Game Night Quartet
September 17 – Roc City Samba (back by popular demand!)
Each performance will take place in the evening at Otto Hendenburg Park, and just like last year, these are free and open to all. Bring a chair, a blanket, maybe a light snack or drink, and come enjoy a relaxed evening of live music with neighbors. Who knows—you might even get a chance to join in on the rhythm! Mark your calendars—we can't wait to see you there!
Neighborhood Paddle & Picnic:
We’re thrilled to announce the return of one of our most laid-back and fun-filled events—Swillburg’s Paddle & Picnic, back for its second year on Saturday, September 27th! This unique event invites neighbors to grab a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and enjoy a relaxing float around beautiful Bay Creek. Whether you’re an experienced paddler or just looking to try something new, it’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and connect with your community. After paddling, everyone is invited to stick around for a picnic, friendly faces, and plenty of good conversation. Not into paddling? No problem! The picnic is open to all neighbors, whether you hit the water or just come for the company.
Tickets are available for purchase here. Grab your paddle (or your picnic blanket!) and join us for this special Swillburg tradition!