Resident proposes community rock garden for children; staff outlines next steps

Marla Larson, a Liberty Lake resident of nearly 40 years, described a community rock garden project to the City of Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission on July 7, 2025, asking how to proceed after an Umqua Bank grant application was submitted.

Larson said the project would allow children and families to paint rocks for a public “rock garden,” with older students providing ongoing maintenance and community-service opportunities. “My grandsons came to visit. They loved partaking in painting rocks and placing them in this community rock garden,” Larson told commissioners.

Nancy Hill, chair of the Parks and Arts Commission, told Larson the next administrative step is a formal project request form, which the commission requires to evaluate site, costs and maintenance. Larson said the bank decision is expected in August; staff offered to email the project form and to place the item on a future agenda once a grant decision is known.

Commission staff and volunteer members suggested short-term outreach options for the idea: the commission plans to host a rock-painting station at its booth during upcoming community events, including the Barefoot in the Park event on Aug. 2. Staff said supplies for outreach (paint pens, boards) could be drawn from the commission’s programming budget.

The exchange occurred during the public-comment portion of the July 7 meeting; no formal action or funding commitment was made by the commission.

Next steps: staff will email Larson the formal project-request form; Larson will return to a future commission meeting if the Umqua Bank grant is awarded or when she completes the form.