353 Court St, Rochester, NY 14607 – Manhattan Square
Client: City of Rochester, New York
Construction Completion: 2026
Project Services:Â Civil Engineering, Infrastructure Assessment, Grading and Drainage Analysis, Water and Sanitary Sewer Evaluation, and Utility Coordination
The City of Rochester initiated the renovation of the playground at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park as part of a long-term effort to modernize one of the City’s most prominent downtown public spaces. The playground, which had last been improved more than two decades earlier, had reached the end of its useful life and presented safety, accessibility, and visibility challenges due to aging infrastructure, non-operational features, and constrained site conditions.
Located within a highly active civic park that hosts seasonal recreation and community events, the project required careful coordination to support increased public use while addressing underlying infrastructure needs. The playground renovation represents one phase of a broader, multi-year investment in the park and surrounding downtown area.
Costich Engineering provided civil engineering services supporting the planning and design of the playground renovation, with a focus on evaluating existing infrastructure and ensuring the site could safely accommodate renewed recreational use. Our work included assessing existing grading and drainage conditions, reviewing stormwater management considerations, and evaluating the condition and capacity of water and sanitary sewer systems serving the park.
Costich also provided civil engineering input during early design phases to support schematic planning, utility coordination, and constructability within the constraints of an established urban park. Our role emphasized aligning new recreational improvements with reliable infrastructure systems and long-term municipal maintenance needs.
Urban park renovations require a clear understanding of how surface improvements interact with underground utilities, drainage patterns, and existing site constraints. Costich’s civil engineering work supported design decision-making related to grading, drainage, and utility systems to help ensure safe circulation, effective stormwater management, and compatibility with surrounding park amenities and infrastructure.
The project’s downtown setting and phased redevelopment context required coordination with City agencies and consideration of long-term operational performance as the park continues to evolve.
Public recreational spaces rely on dependable infrastructure to remain safe, accessible, and welcoming over time. Costich’s civil engineering services supported the City’s goal of renewing the playground by addressing underlying site and utility conditions that directly affect public safety and usability. By evaluating infrastructure early in the planning process, the project helps support a recreational environment that can serve families, visitors, and the surrounding community as part of the park’s ongoing revitalization.
Learn more about this project here:
After nearly 23 years, MLK Park renovations near completion | WXXI News
Learn more about this project here:
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park Playground Renovation | City of Rochester, New York
