Spring cleaning, record bid planned for Sarnia’s Rocky the rock snake

Sarnia retired Wendy Marsden has plans for Rocky the rock snake.

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Marsden launched the community art project in June when, inspired by something similar in Texas, she set 13 painted stones next to a walkway on the St. Clair River waterfront along with a hand-written sign inviting others to join in.

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“If we can get 100 rocks, wouldn’t this be beautiful?” she recalls telling her partner, Rick Wyville.

A month later, there were thousands of painted stones next to the walkway along the Rotary Club of Bluewaterland Flag Plaza, and Rocky kept growing.

“Boy, the community loved it,” Marsden said.

There were more than 11,000 painted stones at last count, she said. “It’s nuts, really.”

A “major cleanup” is planned for April 28, weather permitting, she said. “We’re going to take all the rocks out of there that didn’t do well over the winter,” for repainting by volunteers, starting at 11 am

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“I’ve had a lot of response that people will come down, bring their kids, paint and do a major cleanup,” Marsden said. “We can get that thing back into shape in no time.”

A local firm has offered to make a professional sign to replace her hand-written version, she added.

“I was shocked at how well it actually did over the winter,” Marsden said. “We were really lucky.”

Marsden wants to set a record for this type of project and will unveil plans at the April 28 event aimed at making Rocky “a lot bigger.”

“I think once people get painting and get back into it, we can make it – we can set a record,” she said.

Marsden believes the current record is 23,000 stones, but without the new plan, there isn’t room for that.

But there’s no plan to move Rocky, she added. “It’s going to stay where it is.”

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Rocky the Rock Snake of Sarnia has a Facebook page and Marsden said she hears from families about their trips to the waterfront so children can add painted stones.

“I love that,” she said. “It took off and a lot of people enjoyed it.”

Marsden said officials at Lambton Area Water Supply System, which looks after that stretch of riverfront, said the stones can stay as long as they don’t pose a tripping hazard.

She and Wyville visit regularly to check on Rocky and ensure there are no painted stones on the popular walkway near Blue Water Bridge.

Passersby often ask, “Are you the rock snake lady?” she said.

But “it isn’t about us. It’s about our community,” added.

“This is a really great community.”

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