Remediation, Restoration, & Research

What's that?

In addition to reporting on environmental conditions, we lead multiple park clean-ups and invasive species focused programs. Yearly, we remove more than 2000 pounds of trash from our area parks, green spaces, and waterways with help from volunteers and the City of Rochester, as well as over 500 pounds of water chestnut from our waterways with help from the DEC and PRISM. This is a great way to gather a group of friends and have a fun day outside while also helping the planet.

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Great Lakes Plastic Pollution Cleanups

In partnership with RIT and Monroe County, and other organizations and cities in the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup group SPZ is conducting outreach programs, cleanups, and citizen science data collection around various sites around Rochester and its waterways.  At strategic locations we have LittaTraps to collect waste to be analyzed through stormdrains.  We have also installed SeaBins in Braddock Bay, Irondequoit Bay, and the Genesee River to skim the water of debris to be analyzed.  

Invasive Species​

As one of the transportation hubs of the region, the Monroe County area is at a higher risk of invasive species than other areas.  Seneca Park Zoo currently conducts: 

  • Invasive Species early detection hikes – Staff leads participants on hikes of local green spaces to teach how to identify and report locations of invasive species.  
  • Water Chestnut pulls – Participants help pull invasive water chestnut from local waterways before it seeds out and spreads.  

Upcoming Clean Up Events

  • Maplewood Rose Garden Community Clean Up

    Help Us Keep Our City Clean! Join Seneca Park Zoo’s team of Naturalists at our Maplewood Rose Garden Community Cleanup!May 24 from 9 am until noon, we’ll collect trash and […]

  • 2026 PRIDE Parade Cleanup

    Science Pkwy, Rochester, NY 14620 32 Science Pkwy, Rochester

    PRIDE Parade Cleanup Help keep the neighborhood clean during the celebration. Saturday July 18, 12:00 p.m. The Seneca Park Zoo will be hosting a cleanup at Rochester PRIDE 2025 on […]

  • Community Paddles Clean Up

    Genesee Riverway Trail 118 Petten St, Rochester, United States

    Join us at for a Kayak Clean Up! July 26 is our Lower River Water Chestnut Pull. We'll met at 118 Petten street at the dock at 10 AM. We'll […]

    $15 – $45

Stay Updated

Keep in touch with your friends at Seneca Park Zoo on this event and more! There’s always something happening at the Zoo.