Today Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson was joined at a press conference by Monroe County Parks Director, Patrick Meredith, to announce a $250,000 investment from New York State to renovate and restore the AIDS Remembrance Garden, located in the Beikirch Park, adjacent to Highland Park.

The AIDS Remembrance Garden was conceived in 1991 and broke ground in 1993, at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and has served as a place for families, friends and loved ones to commemorate, memorialize and reflect upon the lives of the more than 400 members of the Rochester community who lost their battle with the disease. Kevin Indovino, former Chair of the garden, said Rochester’s AIDS Remembrance Garden was the first of its kind in the nation created from the ground up.

For three decades it has stood as a living gift to our community to honor those who have been impacted by AIDS. It also serves as a living reminder that the fight against HIV/AIDS continues. Today, over 100,000 New Yorkers are living with this disease, with Monroe County having the highest population of HIV positive people in Central New York. Although the epidemic continues, we have fortunately moved from HIV infection being a death sentence to a chronic, but manageable condition with appropriate healthcare and medication.

“The AIDS Remembrance Garden is a place where we remember those loved ones, community members, friends and family whom we have lost to HIV/AIDS, and we also recognize that the fight against this disease is not over. The voices of many of my friends can no longer be heard, their hands can no longer be held, yet their memories live through spaces like this garden, which is why securing funding for the restoration is so critical,” said Assemblymember Bronson. “Here we can invest in creating a beautiful, living testament to their lives and experiences, and share them with subsequent generations. Through the partnership and commitment from County Executive Bello and the Monroe County Parks Department, as well as volunteer help from the Victory Alliance and South East Area Coalition (SEAC), this garden will continue to preserve the memories of these cherished lives.”

“The beautiful grounds of Beikirch Park are home to several community supported memorials, including the AIDS Remembrance Garden. Originally opened in 1993 at the height of the AIDS epidemic as a loving tribute to those who lost their lives due to AIDS-related illness, the garden has provided a serene place for family, friends, and loved ones to gather and reflect for over 30 years. Today, thanks to advancements in prevention and treatment people who test positive for HIV are living longer, healthier lives,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, “The state funds secured by Assemblyman Harry Bronson and the commitment of community volunteers will allow for the revitalization and continued maintenance of our AIDS Remembrance Garden, and we will soon see upgrades including new plantings, resurfaced walkways, restored benches, and new hardscaping.”

Assemblymember Bronson, the first LGBTQ+ state legislator from outside of New York City, has lost several close friends to the disease, and has long been a supporter and advocate for the garden’s success. The garden, while a valuable and important asset to families in our community, has struggled to receive the funding necessary for its consistent care, and its original landscape and architectural vision have yet to be realized. With these state funds, and a partnership with the Monroe County Parks Department, the AIDS Remembrance Garden will be completed. The original architectural plans for the garden reside in the Rochester Public Library System and will help guide the project’s next phases. In recent years, new attention has been brought to the garden in the form of volunteer-led cleanup days and annual remembrance ceremonies, led by Nick Wilbur and the South East Area Coalition (SEAC) and Andrew Moran from The Victory Alliance. These outreach efforts have helped raise awareness about the garden and the need to bring the original vision to fruition.

“The Monroe County Parks System is proud to house the AIDS Remembrance Garden. Our parks strive to be welcoming and accessible places that reflect the diverse communities who use them,” said Pat Meredith, Monroe County Parks Director. “The Parks team has been working with Assemblyman Bronson and his staff to secure funds that will restore this garden and ensure this space has the reverence it deserves. County Parks thanks the Rochester Rainbow Union, the Victory Alliance, and the Southeast Area Coalition, for their support maintaining and caring for this garden.”

“This is a significant opportunity to revitalize and safeguard a significant part of Rochester’s history.

A place of hope and healing, the AIDS Remembrance Garden will remain relevant for future generations, reflecting on our community’s compassion and response to the AIDS crisis,” said Kevin Indovino, Former Chair - AIDS Remembrance Garden

“I’m proud to have so many partners and willing volunteers dedicated to preserving this piece of Rochester queer history, and for the opportunity to carry this torch from the generations before me. I look forward to seeing the original Garden’s vision realized, and to have a hand in maintaining it for the generations after,” said Nick Wilbur, South East Area Coalition

“As we approach PRIDE week celebrations in Monroe County, we must remember the history of this movement and its significance to reducing the AIDS endemic and honoring the history of LGBTQ+ communities. We must also remain aware and be vigilant of the past and continued impact of AIDS, and that is one of the things we can accomplish through the AIDS Remembrance Garden,” said Assemblymember Bronson.

To volunteer with the AIDS Remembrance Garden, please visit the “Friends of Rochester’s AIDS Remembrance Garden” page on Facebook, or sign up through the volunteer form.