Schenectady Rose Garden

Stop and smell the roses at the Central Park Rose Garden, a peaceful one-acre garden in the heart of Schenectady featuring more than 2,000 rose bushes, over 100 varieties and beautiful water features.

About this Attraction
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    A Garden with History

    The Central Park Rose Garden was established in 1959 at the Wright Avenue entrance to Central Park, on land that was previously used as tennis courts. Charles D. Brown, a member of the Schenectady Rose Society, designed the original garden.

    The garden flourished over the following decades, reaching an estimated 7,000 rose bushes in the 1970s. After declining during the 1980s and early 1990s, a group of local residents came together in 1995 to begin restoring the garden. Their efforts became the Rose Garden Restoration Committee, which continues to maintain and improve the garden today.

    A small waterfall flows over rocks into a pond, surrounded by lush green plants, bright pink coneflowers, and white daisies in a vibrant garden landscape inspired by The Wild Center.

    Stroll, Relax & Take in the Scenery

    Today, the garden features more than 2,000 rose bushes representing over 100 varieties, including grandiflora, shrub, floribunda and hybrid tea roses in a variety of colors.

    Visitors can stroll among the rose beds, admire the tiered center fountain, cross the garden’s brook and relax beside the ponds. The garden also features perennial gardens, a hillside shade garden, a pergola and several seating areas.

    A landscaped garden with circular flowerbeds, white archways, a central fountain, and tall trees under a cloudy sky evokes the elegance of the Schenectady Rose Garden.

    Plan Your Visit

    Hours of Operation

    Open daily from dawn to dusk

    The garden is open to the public year-round, with roses typically in bloom from June through October.

    With its roses, fountains, ponds and landscaped gardens, the Rose Garden is also a popular setting for weddings, memorial ceremonies, special events and professional photography.

    Reservations and permits are required for weddings, gatherings and professional photo sessions and are managed through the City of Schenectady Department of Parks and Recreation. Current 2026 wedding fees are $50 per hour for Schenectady residents and $100 per hour for non-residents, with a two-hour maximum.

    A small stone bridge arches over a clear pond surrounded by lush greenery, grasses, and blooming flowers in a tranquil Schenectady Rose Garden setting.

    Where is The Central Park Rose Garden?

    Wright Avenue & Central Parkway
    Schenectady, NY

    Take Amtrak to The Central Park Rose Gardens

    Experience the Schenectady Rose Garden via Amtrak to Schenectady Station (SDY). The station is served by Amtrak’s Empire Service and Adirondack routes, providing convenient rail connections from destinations throughout New York.

    Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s See New York and Save 15% discount!