Corbett's Glen – a Town of Brighton Nature Park

Size:	52 acres
Location:	Town of Brighton, Monroe County. Corbett’s Glen is an 18-acre hollow located along Allen’s Creek at the Brighton/Penfield town-line just north of Route 441 at Linden Avenue, near I-490. The south entrance is reached by turning north onto Linden Ave., off Rte. 441, just east of I-490. Then take an immediate left turn onto Glen Rd. Park before the curve in the road (look for parking signs).  Walk under the historic railroad overpass, along the swiftly flowing Allen's Creek, to enter the park. The north entrance is on Penfield Road across the street from Forest Hills Drive.  There is an 8-car parking area there.
Description:	There are a total of 2 miles of well- marked trails through the park. Most are wood chip, with a boardwalk over a particularly wet area and a 0.35 miles stone dust loop at the Penfield Road parking area. Aside from the wonderful waterfalls and historic tunnel, the Glen features a variety of habitats, including a marsh, open fields, and mature woodlands on the surrounding hills forming the valley. It is surrounded on three sides by sandy ridges deposited as the glaciers that once covered the area melted and receded. Upon entering the Glen, one is struck by the feeling of being nestled in a special place, far from the hectic pace of modern life. Remnants of its previously forested state are located on the higher elevations of the Glen, where some oaks are estimated to be over 150 years old. The Glen is a traditional migratory stopover for birds in the spring and fall and remains a haven for wildlife including great blue herons, wild turkeys, deer, beaver, trout and salmon.
History:	The Glen was once an important Native American trading ground. Rochester journalist Arch Merrill has written about the well-trodden trails coming into the area where the creek passes under the New York Central Railway. The Seneca Indian trail led to Irondequoit Creek and followed Allen’s Creek from the area near East Avenue through the Glen. A railroad embankment on the property was built in 1882. The vaulted arch bridge over Allen’s Creek is believed to be the largest in upstate New York. The stone for the arch was quarried from bedrock at the edge of the Glen. The Glen is also the previous home to a pre-Civil War powder mill. It has been reported that powder from this mill was carted as far as Lockport and used to blast out larger locks when the Erie Canal was being enlarged. The first documented landowner lived in the Glen in 1833; Patrick Corbett purchased the land in 1890 and developed the land into one of the area’s largest truck farms. Recognizing the idyllic setting and natural beauty of his home, Corbett opened a private park which became a popular picnic spot for local groups. Some Rochesterians have fond memories of attending Camp Hideaway, which operated in the Glen during the 1960’s. In a 1974 article, Clarence Zornow described with fond recollection the Glen as a great place for picnicking and where the trolley line, which ran from Rochester to Syracuse, would bring many picnickers out from the City to the Glen.
Preservation:	Preservation efforts for the Glen have been a long-term effort. Brighton’s 1970 Comprehensive Development Plan recommended that Corbett’s Glen "…be preserved in its natural state." In 1974, the Brighton Town Board voted to have the town supervisor explore various avenues open to the town to obtain aid to help purchase the Glen. Brighton’s 1990 Master Plan recommended maintaining the Glen as an open space. And in 1996, the Corbett’s Glen was given a "highest priority" ranking by the Monroe County Environmental Management Council for protection as an environmentally sensitive area. In 1999 the Town of Brighton and Genesee Land Trust agreed to a partnership to save the Glen. GLT secured a purchase contract for the Glen and embarked on a fundraising campaign. On June 24, 1999 the acquisition of the Glen was celebrated and the Corbett’s Glen Nature Park was formed. Genesee Land Trust continues to serve on the town's Corbett's Glen Advisory Council.
Map:	Older Map of Corbett's Glen Nature Park North Map of Corbett's Glen Nature Park South
Photos:
Links:	Visit the Town of Brighton Web site Here Learn more about Corbett's Glen here