Community Corner
Newest Treasure-Hunt Trend Of Painting Rocks Has Rolled Into Manville
#ManvilleRocks encourages residents of all ages to paint their own rocks, hide them and search for others in town.
MANVILLE, NJ — Manville locals are searching all over town for… rocks. But not just any rocks, painted rocks.
The Manville Rocks group was started by local resident Bree Gildea on July 4, the same time the Hillsborough Rocks also launched.
The purpose is for local residents to paint rocks of any size and leave them around Manville. The rocks are painted with cute pictures or an inspirational saying to lift up people’s spirits.
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On the back of each rock is painted #ManvilleRocks. When you find one you can take it home and replace it with your own painted rock. Put it back or hide it somewhere new. Locals are also encouraged to take photos of the rocks they find and post it in the Manville Rocks Facebook Group.
Heather Ball, the president of the Manville Arts Council, heard about Gildea’s group and jumped on board right away.
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Ball and Gildea coordinated their first rock painting event on July 15 and had more than 50 people show up from twn.
“The thing I find really interesting is how the whole movement happened so organically,” Ball said. “It brought people together in town that would’ve never conversed before.... Adults, kids, people from all walks of life are doing this.”
Ball loves the idea of how the simple task of painting a rock and hiding it has engaged so many residents and brough the community together.
Some residents have even made it into a game.
“One woman painted Snow White and the seven dwarves and you had to find all of them,” Ball said.
Joining forces with Hillsborough the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Club is hosting a family movie night on Aug. 12 where there will also be rock painting event there. The club is located at at 1500 Brooks Blvd., Hillsborough.
“This will allow both Hillsborough and Manville rock groups to meet,” Ball said. “I love how it is involving the surrounding communities and gives us an opportunity to meet neighbors we don’t know very well.”
Residents looking to get involved can join the Manville Rocks Facebook group or email Ball at
heatherb@manvillearts.org.
(Images via Heather Ball: Pictured are Ball's children Ainsley and Wesley.)
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