Tacoma Rocks! is a Facebook group – with an accurate name, yes? – for people who paint “rocks, shells and earthly things to hide around Tacoma to brighten people’s day.” It’s something of a local movement. When The News Tribune wrote about the group in November, there were about 2,000 Facebook members. In February, the number was up to 6,500. Today there are nearly 9,000.

The idea is a lot like Monkeyshines, but year-round. The decorated rocks turn up in parks, along the shore and in other places throughout Tacoma, just waiting to be found.

So naturally, government stands ready to throw cold water on a cool movement like this, right?

Heck, no.

A Tacoma Rocker contacted us last month to ask about the official Metro Parks Tacoma position on leaving the painted rocks in parks managed by the district. I checked with Marina Becker, Metro Parks’ director of parks and natural resources, and here’s the short version of Metro Parks’ position: We’re happy to see people finding new ways to use their parks and just ask people to use common sense.

Common sense includes making sure the placement is safe and won’t be a danger to people, pets, facilities or equipment (such as lawnmowers – rocks can be especially dangerous when hit by fast-moving blades).

That’s pretty much it. Common sense covers a lot of ground.

In my two years with Metro Parks, we’ve had questions about Pokémon Go, geocaching and similar activities. Most of the time, parks managers have two things to say: 1. It’s terrific to see parks getting used in ways the district’s founders in 1907 couldn’t have foreseen. 2. Please use common sense. If down the road painted rocks start filling up and detracting from natural areas, or are left where they shouldn’t be left, or start posing a danger, or someone plans a massive event that requires a special use permit, then we’ll talk about it down the road. But for now? Paint away.

Tacoma Rocks people, by the way, talked about do’s and don’ts early on. A pinned post in the group by Brooke Speiser that begins “Rules…Rules…Rules….” includes tips: Don’t hide them inside stores without permission. Don’t leave them in produce bins. Don’t cuss.

Incidentally, Tacoma Rocks is a fun preschool activity at Tacoma Nature Center, which is managed by Michele Cardinaux of Metro Parks. And there are more than a few Metro Parks employees active on the Tacoma Rocks Facebook page. #TacomaRocks.

Volunteering with Metro Parks might bring to mind beach cleanups, Fort Nisqually interpretation and park stewardship, but … well, actually those are GREAT ways to help take care of your district. Service on an advisory council is a way to put your professional expertise about education, fitness, arts and business to work for the benefit of your community.

The councils meet regularly with Park Board and staff liaisons to review and discuss all manner of operations, district policies and programming and to make recommendations. 

Looking Back

These are very busy times for Metro Parks Tacoma. Over the past year, several big projects broke ground at Point Defiance Park, including the park on the peninsula, the Pacific Seas Aquarium, and the Environmental Learning Center, a Tacoma Public Schools-led project that will provide educational enrichment opportunities for the Science and Math Institute as well as Zoo visitors and staff.

In September, we celebrated the grand opening of the People’s Community Center pool on Hilltop and, since then, we’ve seen many community members jump right into the pool! We're working with Tacoma Public Schools to offer swim lessons to elementary and middle school students there.

Perhaps most notable in 2016 was movement on the long-awaited prospect of the Eastside Community Center, in no small part through the longstanding dedication of Shalisa Hayes, a local mother who took action on the dream of her late son to create a safe place for kids and families to learn and play. The center was then made possible through many gracious donations and a dynamic partnership between Metro Parks Tacoma, the City of Tacoma, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, and Tacoma Housing Authority. As an Eastside Boys & Girls Club alum, I can attest to the necessity of community centers. The B&G Club provided me safe haven from the boredom and dangers of playing in the streets and taught me teamwork and sportsmanship, which helped establish my self-worth.

This year, Metro Parks received another $25,000 in funding from the Pierce County Council to keep expanding our Specialized Recreation programs for people with intellectual disabilities. These are some of our most precious and vulnerable citizens. It was a treat for me to attend last year's Cinderella Ball, a partnership with the Tacoma Yacht Club that provided magical memories for our Specialized Recreation participants. There were dozens of participants who received awards and were among many supporters and even more friends.