Brockport

Brockport is a western New York village that bloomed along the Erie Canal. The canal was an important step in the country’s 19th-century development and is still a prominent feature of Brockport’s makeup. “The Erie Canal has got a lot of rich history,” says local Realtor Nicole Curcio of RE/MAX Titanium.

The canal, completed in 1825, served as a major pathway from trading between places like New York City, Buffalo and Rochester, and western territories like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. Brockport, about 20 miles west of Rochester, was incorporated shortly thereafter, in 1829. The village has long been home to industry — frozen food packaging and distribution and electronic recycling are two big ones here today.

Many of the homes in Brockport were built in the mid-20th century, mostly an assortment of ramblers and split-level colonials. You can find quite a few houses built in recent years here, too, though, modern Craftsman-style constructions. A common thread in Brockport is homes here sit along sidewalk-lined streets, shaded by mature trees. Housing prices here usually start at about $175,000 — it’s hard to find anything less than that, Curcio says. A lot of the houses in Brockport sell for between $200,000 and $300,000. Inventory is low and demand is strong, in part because of the village’s location, between both Rochester and Buffalo.

Brockport’s location lends itself to prime outdoor recreation opportunities, too, which is another draw to the area. The village is just over a dozen miles south of the shores of Lake Ontario, a destination for swimming, boating and fishing. In town, Northampton Park and Sweden Town Park are both well-used. Northampton Park is a 973-acre behemoth with about 6 miles of trails cutting through it, on five different paths. The trails can be used for cross-country skiing in the winter, too. The park also features multiple athletic fields, plus a natural playground, with obstacles fashioned out of logs and boulders — 100 tons to be exact. Sweden Town Park, in addition to athletic fields, includes a splash park and a skate park. The Erie Canal is a recreational draw in its own right, bordered by the 19-mile Erie Canalway Trail, a path for walkers, runners and cyclists.

Follow some outdoor fun with a visit to one of Brockport’s restaurants. A hotspot is 58 Main BBQ & Brew. “That’s probably the most popular sit-down restaurant,” Curcio says. The smoked chicken wings here are a hit, and make sure to get the macaroni and cheese to go with it. Jimmy Z’s Plates & Shakes is popular, too, known for its “Garbage Plates.” Garbage Plates are a Rochester-area staple, featuring a cornucopia of food, typically hamburger, sausage, chicken or steak, on top of some combination of fries, baked beans or macaroni salad. Corona’s II is another option, a wonderful new Mexican restaurant, Curcio says. Patrons enjoy the margarita here.

The schools of Brockport are among the village’s marks. The Brockport Central School District carries a B overall Niche rating. Students can go to Ginther Elementary for prekindergarten to first grade, Barclay Elementary for Grades 2 and 3, and Hill Elementary for Grades 4 and 5. The teachers at each of these schools have B Niche ratings of their own, who facilitate student-teacher ratios better than the national average, no more than 15-to-1. Oliver Middle serves Grades 6 to 8 and offers its students an annual American History Trip to Washington, D.C., a tradition in place for more than 60 years. Brockport High has its own engineering technology program, a head start for those interested in the engineering field.

SUNY Brockport, a public university, attracts thousands of students to Brockport for several months out of every year, too. This school sits on a 464-acre campus and is notable in part for its nursing program. SUNY Brockport also has a full athletic department, with teams from football to swimming and diving, that compete at the NCAA Division III level.

Brockport residents can enjoy multiple village events over the course of the year. The Brockport Arts Festival is a staple of August, with well over 100 artisan booths on site, plus live music and food. The Brockport Holiday of Lights Parade is a December draw, a precession of floats down Main Street capped by a tree lighting and fireworks.

Brockport’s proximity to Rochester and Buffalo may be a boon, but this village stands tall on its own, too. An area that sprouted in the early days of the Erie Canal is now a well-rounded community.

Written By

Wayne Epps Jr.

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Vick

Video By

EB Fox