Braddock Bay Park Renamed in Honor of Former Supervisor
The Town of Greece has officially renamed the park at Braddock Bay as “Donald J. Riley Park” in honor of former Town Supervisor Donald J. Riley, who led the Town from 1973 to 1989. The Town held a dedication ceremony on Thursday, September 17.
During his 16 years in office, Supervisor Riley oversaw the Town’s acquisition of Braddock Bay Park and Marina, along with a series of major achievements that shaped the way residents know Greece today. His administration led the completion of Route 390 to the Lake Ontario State Parkway, purchased the land that is now the Town administrative campus, grew the Greece Police Department from 22 to 89 officers, and installed a multi-million-dollar flood control system to protect the Lake Ontario waterfront. Supervisor Riley was also instrumental in preserving local history, negotiating Wegmans Food Markets’ sale of the Gordon A. Howe house to the Greece Historical Society for $1, funding its relocation, and arranging a 40-year lease of Town land that gave the Greece Historical Society its first home.
A graduate of St. John Fisher College with a degree in History, Riley began his career teaching fifth grade at St. Margaret Mary’s in Irondequoit before entering public service. Following his time as Supervisor, he went on to serve in leadership positions for the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and Mark IV Enterprises.
“Don Riley led the Town of Greece with vision and humility, and decades later, residents are still benefiting from the decisions he made,” said Supervisor McCann. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Don personally for years, and what strikes me most isn’t the list of accomplishments, though remarkable; it’s how much he genuinely cares about Greece. Naming this park after him is a small way of saying thank you for a lifetime of service to Greece. I couldn’t be happier to see his name permanently tied to a place he made possible for our community to enjoy.”
“Don Riley has been a longtime mentor and friend. I’m incredibly grateful for all I’ve learned and continue to learn from him,” said Spencer Bernard, Councilman, Ward 2. “His leadership in conservation and commitment to preserving the places that make Greece special have left a lasting legacy in our Town. These 375 acres are a tremendous asset to the Town of Greece – beautiful open space, a unique natural environment, and a home to countless wildlife. As a member of the Town Board, I believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of places like this and to make protecting our remaining open space a priority. Don’s leadership showed us that conservation and responsible growth can go hand in hand.”
