In Wake of Mass Shooting, Rochester Must Reclaim Maplewood Park as a Sacred Space

George Payne

The recent tragedy at Maplewood Park has left an indelible mark on the community and a deep void in the lives of those who knew and loved the victims. On July 28, over 100 people gathered in the park to enjoy the summer sun and the beautiful surroundings of the Genesee River. Families with infants, children, teenagers, and grandparents came together for games, good food, and a sense of community.

But at 6:20 p.m., the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the sound of several dozen gunshots, which rang out over a horrific minute. As videos on social media reveal, panic ensued as the crowd scattered in every direction, and in the chaos, seven people were struck by gunfire. Some stopped to try and help the wounded. Tragically, two women—Tyasia Manning, 25, and Phylicia Council, 33—lost their lives. Both were Rochester residents, city school graduates, and friends.

Among those left to grapple with this senseless loss is Phylicia’s father, Alex Reese Council, who returned to his hometown to do the unthinkable—make arrangements to bury his daughter. In his grief, he carried a bold message for the community.

“At the end of the day, if you want the crime to stop in Rochester, then you got to speak up,” Council said. His words come from a place of profound pain. He lost his daughter in a hail of gunfire, with at least 100 people present at the park that day, and he believes those who survived must speak out.

“If you want the crime to continue, then you be silent. It is just no two ways around it,” he asserted.

The violence that erupted in Maplewood Park is not just a personal tragedy but a communal one. The park, designed by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, was meant to be a place of refuge and renewal, a space where people could experience the restorative power of nature. Olmsted believed that parks could promote democratic values by providing all people, regardless of background, a place to come together and connect with the landscape. His designs, including Central Park in New York City, were intended to offer an antidote to the ills of urban life.

But what happens to our neighborhoods when these green spaces, intended as sanctuaries, become sites of violence? The loss of safety in these public spaces erodes the very fabric of the community. As Alex Reese Council’s plea underscores, the silence in the face of such violence can only perpetuate the cycle. Speaking out, bearing witness, and demanding change are necessary steps to reclaiming these spaces and restoring their intended purpose.

As the community mourns, it must also confront the broader implications of this tragedy. The question now is whether we will honor the memory of those lost by standing together and refusing to let violence define our public spaces. Olmsted’s belief in the power of parks to heal and unite communities feels more urgent than ever.

Agape Haven of Abundance is hosting a peace demonstration this Friday, August 16th, at 1:00 PM. We will gather at the Maplewood Rose Garden. All are welcome to join us in standing together for peace.

Hope to see you there.

George Payne serves as the Vice President of Agape Haven of Abundance, a community-based organization located at 289 Driving Park Ave in the Edgerton/Maplewood neighborhood.

Mass shooting victim's father calls on community to speak up (spectrumlocalnews.com)

Father of mass shooting victim calls on community to speak up

Alex Reese Council says it's your civil duty to help bring these people to justice.