ROCHESTER — When Mike Deegan drove through the downtown over the weekend, he glanced over to Factory Court, which one year ago was just a connector road between the Union Street parking lot and North Main Street.

Deegan, of Distinctive Forest Creations, was the project designer for Rochester Main Street's Factory Court renovation. What he saw over the weekend was simple enough: a few people sitting down at a picnic table, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. But it represented the culmination of all the hard work that numerous volunteers put into transforming Factory Court into a pedestrian gathering spot.

"I'm very happy with the way things look," said Main Street board of directors President Tim Cremmen of Metrocast. "The arches and the bollards (posts) look very nice."

Cremmen, Deegan, David Meulenbroek of Studley's Landscaping and Kerry McMahon of Salmon Falls Ironworks spent their Saturday morning bolting the benches and picnic tables into the ground at the site. It was one of the final steps in the transformation of Factory Court. Deegan said they plan to put in four more flower boxes and some trash receptacles, and they still need to pressure wash a stage that will be set up in the area. Cremmen said they will also place a community message board at the site.

The project has not been without its detractors. When the committee began making changes to Factory Court, four large clay-colored planters were placed there without any plants inside them. Some residents complained when they went through the area and found the planters were essentially being used as ash trays and trash cans. People called the site an eyesore. Even as recently as the end of June, when McMahon installed three steel arches, an elderly man drove by in a car, calling out from his rolled-down window that the project was a waste of federal Community Development Block Grant funding.

Deegan said that was the last time he heard a complaint about Factory Court. As the pieces came together, people began to see the appeal of the project that could not be conveyed through words or drawings. Deegan said people who see Factory Court now have been telling him, "Oh wow, I didn't know what you guys were going to do."

"You can describe it however you like, but until you see it all come together you don't see how nice it is," added Cremmen, who said the final product exceeded his expectations.

It also has gained the approval of new Main Street Executive Director Mike Provost, who started full-time in his post last week. He said Factory Court will become one of the "signature statements" that tells people that "this is a place to be."

Provost said skeptics who claim Factory Court will not change the downtown do not take into account that change happens incrementally. He said that Factory Court is one step that will lead to cumulative results that will positively impact the downtown. He said it is up to Main Street to continue on with the momentum Factory Court has created.

"It's time for people to start rediscovering Rochester," he said.

The official grand opening of Factory Court is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. Organizers are hoping to have acoustic bands perform at the event, which is being held to give thanks to all the volunteers who helped along the way.