Photo courtesy of the Kindness Rocks Project
During the pandemic, people across the U.S. found new ways to be creative and active while many events and venues were shut down — especially for children.
One such activity that gripped a small hiking community in Carson City was painting rocks. While this might seem odd to some, rock-painting has become a nationwide activity throughout the past decade or so, but no time more so than during the pandemic.
Those within the painted rock communities will decorate small to medium sized rocks and “hide” them throughout a community for people to find, snap a photo, and either re-hide for someone else to find, or take them home!
Near the V&T Trail, the impromptu rock garden started small: a few painted rocks near a concrete wall, away from the natural areas but where those hiking the trail could admire them. Quickly, the few grew to several, and then many.
“During the pandemic, people were looking for alternative activities to keep their minds active and have creative outlets, and many people were painting rocks with hopeful messages and putting them along a section of the V&T Trail,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Budge. “This was a paved section near a concrete wall, not out in nature, a very developed portion of the trail.”
A homeowner near the trail even set up a small table with paint, brushes and rocks so children could paint their own rocks before they went on the trail.
At its peak, the number of rocks placed beside the trail grew to several hundred. That is, until a private citizen independently decided to remove all of the rocks, stating that they felt the rocks were “graffiti” and did not belong on the trail, according to Budge.
While the city currently has no stance either way on painted rocks, they will be opening the topic up for discussion at the next Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space commission meeting so community members can have their say.
“We did not provide guidance either to put the rocks there or to remove them,” said Budge. “To our knowledge, the rocks weren’t creating a safety issue and there were no concerns that we were aware of. But this is one of the reasons why we wanted to have this discussion; it’s a nationwide issue and it’s called the Kindness Rocks Project.”
According to Budge, with rock-painters leaving their art across the nation, many park systems have created policies in relation to painted rocks, from national parks to state parks all the way to local park systems.
“Maybe we could provide a designated rock garden location,” said Budge. “We definitely do not want them out in nature, park rangers really do try to provide ‘leave no trace’ concepts, but I think they could add a lot of joy and comfort.”
The intent was to have the discussion during the last commission meeting, but time ran out due to discussions regarding dog ordinance proposals.
“I think the intent of it is very kind and generous and trying to keep people engaged in something especially during the pandemic,” said Budge. “Perhaps it got a little much since there were several hundred in the end, but that just shows how passionate people were about the activity and how much they enjoyed it.”
The majority of people who have spoken to the city regarding the painted rocks were in favor of it, while there were a few who opposed it, stating they did not think it was appropriate.
“That’s kind of the feedback we would like to hear from the community and to discuss whether or not we should create a policy,” said Budge.
Budge encourages the community to contribute their opinions on the painted rock topic during the Aug. 16 meeting at the Carson City Community Center, or by sending public comment to publiccomment@carson.org
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During the pandemic, people across the U.S. found new ways to be creative and active while many events and venues were shut down — especially for children.
One such activity that gripped a small hiking community in Carson City was painting rocks. While this might seem odd to some, rock-painting has become a nationwide activity throughout the past decade or so, but no time more so than during the pandemic.
Happy Friday Carson City! Let's take a look at what is happening throughout the region this weekend!
Over the weekend of July 16, Carson City hosted the 21st Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs, a premier ultra distance race that encircled the Eastern Sierra west of town. Once a local Sierra endurance race, the TRTER has grown into one of the elite ultra distance races in the country while continuing to be a fully volunteer run operation that makes substantial donations to local organizations.
Bring home happiness this weekend with a special cat or kitten from Catmandu as part of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary National Adoption Weekend. The event is this Friday through Sunday July 22-24, from 11am to 3:30 pm.
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a missing woman who last had contact with family in early May.
Youth Theatre Carson City is thrilled to announce our upcoming live production of "Matilda: The Musical, Jr.," playing eight performances weekends July 22-31, 2022 in the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson City Community Center.
During the Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday, supervisors heard a presentation regarding growth management as part of a discussion regarding the allocation of new residential building allocation permits.
During the presentation, statistics revealed the amount of children per households is shrinking.
The annual Genoa Lakes Ladies’ Golf Club President’s Cup tournament took place July 12 and July 14 at the Genoa Lakes Golf Club Lakes Course. Twenty-five members competed in the two-day, net tournament. Amber Graham won the tournament with a net score of 141. Dede Nieto was the runner-up, with a score of 143.
The Levitt AMP Carson City Music Series at The Change Companies stage continues Saturday, July 23 with the charismatic psychedelic cumbia punk, rock and grunge stylings of headliner Tropa Magica. Opening for them is northern Nevada's favorite Latin and funk party band Drinking With Clowns.
Salvation Army Captains Holly and Immanuel Beeson are used to starting fresh. In fact, all Salvation Army Officers are because their assignments typically change every few years — leaving them to pack up their lives and relocate to another Corps in another part of the country to continue the mission of The Salvation Army to meet human needs in the name of Jesus Christ without discrimination.
On Wednesday, the Lyon County District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges against Troy Driver, the suspected killer of 18-year-old Naomi Irion.
In addition to open murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary of a vehicle, destruction of evidence and other charges already filed against Driver, the Lyon County District Attorney added felony sexual assault and a felon in possession of a gun.
The Carson City Treasurer’s Office is announcing the issuance and mailing of the 2022-2023 Real Property Tax bill. This bill covers the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Carson City property owners should see their property tax bills arrive in the mail around Friday, July 22, 2022.
RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident made her initial appearance on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla L. Baldwin for allegedly conspiring to commit bank robbery and for bank robbery.
Shanequa Charles, 31, is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery and Bank Robbery.
Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH, has been selected as a Target non-profit, where Target Circle members can earn and cast votes for a selection of local non-profits along with other perks.
Bringing American Sign Language instruction and communication to rural Nevada has made Western Nevada College Instructor Margaret Craig a hero to many people in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
RENO — Researchers attempting to help predict how the wildfire hazard will change due to various factors over the next several decades have some good news, and some bad news. Good news is, wildfire occurrence and intensity will likely decrease in several locations in the future. The bad news: decreases may not occur for another 50 years, and wildfire hazard will likely get worse before it gets better.
MINDEN — On Tuesday July 19 at approximately 2:00 pm, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1392 Highway 395 in Gardnerville. The search warrant was the result of information learned the previous day when patrol deputies had responded to the address for a medical call and observed drug paraphernalia along with obvious children’s toys throughout the house.
While most people in Carson City are feeling the pressure of a skyrocketing housing market, more restrictive rental agreements, and interest rates pushing the potential for homeownership into the horizon, there is another, less talked about consequence: pet surrenders.
A 33-year-old man was arrested early Wednesday morning for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and three misdemeanor offenses, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office report.
CARSON CITY — Nearly 50 landmarks tell the story of Nevada’s capital city history along the 2.5-mile Kit Carson Trail. Now, new and repeat visitors to Carson City can stroll through history via a free, online interactive audio tour and enhanced mobile website with a downloadable map and video tour.
CARSON CITY — Nevada Division of State Parks is currently accepting grant project pre-applications in anticipation of the 2023 Federal Highway Administration funding of the Recreational Trails Program. Submittal of a pre-application is required to determine project eligibility. Eligible pre-applicants will be encouraged to submit full funding proposals in the fall of 2022.
UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: This story has been updated with clarifications from Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Budge. *** On Monday evening, the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission and Open Space Advisory Committee held a joint meeting to discuss proposed guidance and regulations for where and how dogs can recreate within the Carson City community.
Men, it’s time to take charge of your health! Read more from Carson Tahoe Health and test how much you know about prostate cancer. Plus, learn how smart choices can help lead to living a longer life! Here’s To Your Health, Summer 2022: https://bit.ly/3zf1QVH
MINDEN — The Douglas County School District and Douglas County Community Health Clinic invite parents and guardians to bring their children to the Back-To-School immunization clinic to receive all routine childhood vaccines.
CARSON CITY — GreenUP!, an environmental education non-profit working with local businesses, is encouraging restaurant patrons to participate in the month of Plastic Free July by joining their reusable takeout container program. Diners that post a picture demonstrating how they choose to reduce waste while dining out will receive a free $20 token for a reusable takeout container at participating restaurants.
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a woman at a Dayton mobile home park on Monday as a homicide.
One program that has become very popular in recent years is the Carson City Fire Department’s Wildland Fuels Reduction and Preparedness program.
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A research document just released by an international pool funded study led by the Nevada Department of Transportation provides an authoritative review of the most effective measures to reduce animal-vehicle collisions, improve motorist safety, and offer safer crossings for wildlife.
The Brewery Arts Center will open a new exhibition "Part of the Machine Rock & Pinball" on loan from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, beginning Saturday night, July 23, ahead of the Levitt AMP Carson City outdoor music series.
Carson City BMX hosting the annual Race for Life. USABMX started this race/fundraising effort to honor Todd Kingsbury, a young BMX rider who fought and lost his fight with leukemia.
UPDATE: The person who drowned at Marla Bay on Monday has been identified as William Dunham, a 79-year-old Genoa resident (not 80 years old as previously released). He had fallen overboard while he was attempting to tie his boat onto a mooring ball in Marla Bay in Lake Tahoe.
Ogres-Holm Pottery in the Carson Mall opens its studio every other Tuesday night to anyone who wants to help create ceramic bowls for Carson City's Empty Bowls project.
CARSON CITY – As summer sizzles on, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles is again urging customers to skip the lines and beat the heat with a free online appointment.
The Carson City Historical Society presents the following ongoing events to be held at the Foreman-Roberts House and Carriage House, 1207 North Carson, Carson City, Nev.
A 33-year-old man was booked Saturday for suspicion of felony child abuse causing physical harm, domestic battery with strangulation and resisting, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office report.
Shoe Tree Brewing Co. in Carson City and Minden received a combined 6 medals at the U.S Open Beer Championship held in Oxford, Ohio. Breweries from Russia to Rhode Island sent more than 9,000 beers representing over 150 different styles for the 2022 U.S. Open Beer Championship.
Faced with an ever-deepening staffing shortage and a correctional officer vacancy rate that has hit 32 percent, leaders at the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) said they are trying to rethink their staffing model and explore using surveillance wristbands, sensors and drones to reduce their need for manpower.
A 21-year-old man was arrested Friday for suspicion of felony burglary, grand theft auto and possession of a stolen vehicle among other offenses, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office booking report.
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