The source of the water is Hemlock Lake, which lies 30 miles due south of and 400 feet higher elevation than Rochester.

With its surrounding iron fencing and Parisian lamp posts, the 12.8 acre reservoir further added to the landscape of Cobbs Hill.

Animated by a fountain, the reservoir reportedly has the sitting capacity to fill every bath tub in Rochester, NY, twice daily, for two months.

[citation needed] An overlook was developed in consultation with the agency of Frederick Law Olmsted— the firm responsible for creating the Rochester Parks system in the late 1880s.

Olmsted executives urged the city to maintain this bluff to provide citizens with unobtrusive skyline views.