Rockin Newaygo County Rolls into White Cloud By Charles Chandler If you ever want to see magic happen give a group of kids and adults free painting supplies, a flat surface to work on, and a bunch of smooth rocks and tell them to use their imagination. This past Saturday local kids and parents met at 11:00 AM at the Trail Side Pavilion in the White Cloud Campground and Park for a free rock painting event. It was a perfect balmy summer day and about 80 painters, parents and wait staff gathered at the Pavilion to paint rocks. Always on the hunt for something fun, free and interesting... for the area kids to do, Newaygo County Parks Director Nick Smith, Wendy Sinicki Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator Newaygo County Welcome Center and some folks from White Cloud City Hall partnered with Kimberly Howland to organize and hold this event in the Park.
Kimberly is that imaginative mom that was instrumental with importing this very fun and contagious activity from Florida to Newaygo County. The County Parks department and the City of White Cloud provided the volunteers and supplies and Mr. John Mellema donated an abundant supply of paintable river rocks. In addition to Nick and Wendy the volunteers were Dianne Taylor – Chandler, Lora Priest and Chief Dan Evans and his family from White Cloud along with Kimberly and family and friends from Rocking Newaygo on Facebook. Chief Evans kept the peace with an abundant supply of cold popsicles. The results of Saturday’s event were big smiles and happy faces and some very beautiful painted rocks. Those that paint, hide, and find these rocks all seen to enjoy the experience equally. Although, from conservations with local rock hunters there appears to be a smidgen of inner conflict when you find one, first the smiles and then WOW this is very pretty and I wonder who did this, and then comes that little niggly voice, do I keep the rock, do I hide it again, what to do, what to do. Many take a picture of their found treasures and post them on Kimberly’s Rocking Newaygo County on Face book page and then hide them in different spots that are safe and appropriate for the cute small people. On Saturday Kimberly mentioned that there were about 3000 participating on her page. The artistic renderings from the Saturday’s event should now be hidden in plain sight throughout Newaygo County. Parks Director Smith mentioned that some rocks with the County Parks Logo painted on them are hidden in each County Park and when those are found and brought by the Welcome Center the finder will receive a small award. Well you have heard it said before “you should have been there because a great time was had by all.” If you would like more information about scheduling or hosting your own rock painting event you can contact Kimberly at Kimhowland.Platos@gmail.com or on her Rocking Newaygo County on Face book page. For information about upcoming events in the County Parks go http://www.countyofnewaygo.com or call (231) 689-7340
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