Rooted in Rochester is an environmentally and community-focused listening campaign open to all Town of Rochester residents. It is a nonpartisan initiative that stems from the simple idea that people should have a say over decisions that impact their lives. The campaign was designed to give residents the opportunity to say what they care about most in their town and identify shared priorities through a community vote.

Between October 2025 and February 2026, neighbors submitted their community project ideas. The ideas were assembled and included on a ballot, where Town of Rochester residents voted on their favorite local project ideas. The results are in and you can view them here!

The goal was to understand what residents want to see in their town and explore the many pathways and funding options that could bring those ideas to life. There are numerous possibilities for funding the projects, including state and private grants, partnerships, fundraising and donations, and municipal investment. The Understory offered a phase 2 round of funding to groups springing out of the initial process. Gameplan is now closed.

Thank you for sharing your ideas and imagining our town’s future together! You can read our press coverage in the Shawangunk Journal here and here, and Blue Stone Press.

This project is completely independent from the town’s budget process and assessment. The ideas have been collected from the community for the community. They are long‑term possibilities meant to inspire, spark collaboration, and build unity, without any formal requests or obligations for the town.