It extends for 2.59 miles (4.17 km) in a generally northwest–southeast direction, connecting the former Griffiss Air Force Base to the Utica–Rome Expressway (NY 49) and downtown Rome.

[3] Then at another roundabout it meets Hangar Road, a local street providing direct access to the airport, NY 825 turns to the northwest, following Mohawk Drive toward the western extent of the former Griffiss Air Force Base grounds.

Past Bell Road, the route curves the northwest and exits the park as it crosses over the Mohawk River and enters a more densely developed area of Rome.

[6] On July 3, 2007, all of NY 825 was officially designated the Griffiss Veterans' Memorial Parkway after legislation proposing the name was signed into law by Governor Eliot Spitzer.

[6] In April 2015, $10.5M was included in the NYS DOT budget to renovate the parkway's final one-mile long, two-lane section into four lanes.

On November 7, 2017, the newly built section of the parkway was opened to traffic although work is continuing on final paving, lighting, and rip out of the old alignment to allow for construction of the adjacent recreational trail.