March 28, 2024

Newton Rocks Program coming to arboretum, city parks

Citizens gaining an appreciation for Newton Parks, increased communication time for parents and children and joy. Those are three reasons Project AWAKE Board Member Jamie Sawin gave the Newton Parks Board to start the Newton Rocks Program.

“We have a lovely facility out on the east end of town and one of our goals is to get more people to use it,” Sawin said. “We saw this piece on the news one morning where a group from Northeast Ohio was painting rocks, hiding them with a sticker on the back saying, ‘if you find this rock, post your picture on Facebook and re-hide the rock.’ It seemed like a simple thing but they now have 161,892 people who are involved in that project.”

The program involves members of Project AWAKE and Newton citizens painting rocks and placing them throughout the Newton Arboretum. When the rocks are found by those walking in the park, they can take them, enjoy them, then re-hide the rock in a different Newton Park. Rocks created by Project AWAKE will have a label on them with instructions including to take a picture with the rock, share the picture on our Facebook page and then re-hide it.

In the Northeast Ohio ground, Sawin said she sees about 10 to 12 new pictures posted on Facebook daily of citizens participating. Of the rocks hidden, some have words on them, some just have pictures, some are done with really good art, some not so good but are probably done by budding artists Sawin said.

“There are some really funny, funny rocks out there. That is part of the mission random acts of kindness or brightening someones day,” Sawin said.

Safety issues were addressed at the meeting by Sawin and Project AWAKE Board President Svetlana Miller.

“We focused on main safety issues, respecting property, keeping rocks out of the grass so lawn mowers don’t hit them and keeping the messages on the rocks appropriate,” Miller said.

The format for sharing the rocks that are discovered was also explained by Miller. She said they will create, under the umbrella of the arboretum Facebook page, a Facebook group people can join with the rules, how they can create their own rock and how to post pictures of the rocks.

The number of rocks that will be placed to start the project has not yet been determined. Also, the start date for Newton Rocks is still up in the air, but Project AWAKE hopes to have it up and running by the Fourth of July.

Overall, the purpose behind the program is to have fun with family while getting fresh air in the Newton Parks, seeing Newton’s beauty and getting some exercise.

“It not only involves recreation but creativity and that is really great,” park board member Amanda Price.

For more information about the project and how to become involved, contact Project AWAKE on the group’s Facebook page.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com