Celebrating Corbett’s Glen: 25 Years of Memories

You can also share by emailing our Director of Communications, Elliotte Bowerman - ebowerman@geneseelandtrust.org.

From Gay Mills, former Executive Director of Genesee Land Trust:

A rough conservation timeline

The Haudenosaunee live in the area until French explorers and settlers move in in the late 1700s.

1833: First documented landowner lives in the Glen

1890: Patrick Corbett (aka The Celery King) purchases the land and develops it 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.

1970s: Patrick Corbett's family decides to sell the land.

Citizens, neighbors, the Town of Brighton, Monroe County, and various environmental groups identify Corbett's Glen as a unique natural area worthy of protection while concept plans for various developments are proposed. Tensions rise between neighbors and landowners, and the Town and landowners whenever new plans are proposed. 

1990s: Allens Creek/Corbetts Glen Preservation Group and Ahskwa Sanctuary are formed

1997: The two organizations reach out to Genesee Land Trust to propose acquiring the property, The land trust board resolves to try making an agreement with the landowners.  Jim Howe of The Nature Conservancy helps open the door for a conversation with David Patton, one of the three partners/landowners of the property.

1998: Jim Howe and Gay Mills negotiate a purchase contract with the owners of the property for the 18 acres along the Creek and accessed by the tunnel. Genesee Land Trust then proposes to the Town of Brighton that they create a public-private partnership to acquire the land that would ultimately be a Town-owned Nature Park.  

1999: Genesee Land Trust launches a capital campaign (its first) to fund its share of the purchase price and create a land preservation fund. Andy Wheatcraft and Bill Buckett chair the campaign, while Suzanne Wheatcraft is president of the board.

June 24, 1999: Dedication of Corbett's Glen/Ribbon Tying 

1999: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Town of Brighton and Genesee Land Trust re: long-term use of Corbett's Glen Nature Park

2000: Citizen's Advisory Group with 3 Genesee Land Trust-appointed members develop a "master plan" for the 18-acre nature park

200?: Town acquires adjacent land (north Corbett's Glen) from Max Farash that creates an entrance on Penfield Road.

200?: Genesee Land Trust funds the acquisition of two access easements to connect via a trail the two protected spaces and create a 52-acre Nature Park. The Town of Brighton hires EDR to develop an overall masterplan that integrates the work of the Citizen's Advisory Group with trail and design of the new parcel. The Town’s Parks Department creates the trails, boardwalks, overlooks etc,. The town also creates a parking lot on Penfield Road and street side parking with a turnaround on Glen Road. Both areas have accessible parking spaces.

2007: EDR is recognized for its Built Design of Corbett’s Glen by the Upstate NY American Society of Landscape Architects.   

2010: AC/CGPG, Historic Brighton and Genesee Land Trust sponsor a celebration of Corbett's Glen.

2017: Democrat & Chronicle article celebrates the history of Corbett’s Glen

Other information available here.

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