Take a stroll through downtown Mason and you’re bound to notice something special— bright pops of color nestled in flower beds, peeking out next to shrubs and tucked along walkways. These cheerful surprises are painted rocks, each one a tiny work of art, and together they make up the Mason Mile Rocks project, a community-driven beautification effort that's bringing color, creativity and connection to the heart of Mason.
The idea began with longtime Mason residents Peg Elfers and Helen Fox, friends who’ve shared a passion for civic engagement and the arts. What started as a response to a call for ideas from the Mason Deerfield Chamber Community Development Corporation (MADECDC) quickly turned into a citywide movement.
“The main goal of the Mason Mile Rocks project is to attract Mason residents and hopefully nonresidents to the downtown Mason Mile, and in doing so, increase foot traffic inside and outside of Mason businesses,” says Peg, a retired Mason High School teacher and one of the project’s leaders. “We also wanted to give people a way to connect and socialize with each other in a fun and positive way.”
The concept is simple: paint a rock, protect it with a weatherproof seal and donate it to be part of one of the themed “rock gardens” now planted along the Mason Mile, a one-mile stretch of downtown from Reading Road to Main Street. With the help of local schools, clubs, businesses and families, the project has blossomed beyond anything Peg or Helen could have expected.
“We hoped to collect enough rocks to establish six to eight gardens,” Peg explains. “We now have 13 gardens of various sizes and over 1,400 painted rocks.”
The project’s reach has been impressive. Peg estimates more than 1,500 people have participated since January 2025 through painting events at schools, Girl Scout meetings, Kiwanis Club gatherings, family parties and public events. Businesses eagerly signed on to host rock gardens outside their storefronts. “Everybody we asked said ‘yes,’” Peg enthuses. “The response we’ve had has exceeded our expectations.”
Helen Fox, who has lived in Mason since 1985, sees the project as a natural extension of the community spirit that’s been growing downtown. “We’ve personally enjoyed the improvement of Mason’s downtown and the expansion of retail offerings and activities,” Helen says. “Peg and I often brainstorm about ways to make Mason more inviting, walkable and successful for businesses and patrons.”
This isn’t the duo’s first foray into community art. In 2023, they coordinated Picture Mason, an exhibit featuring small canvas artworks celebrating favorite local landmarks. The Mason Mile Rocks project, they hope, will bring even more people into the creative fold.
“Most people understand how to paint a rock and the small burst of joy discovering a rock with a positive message or clever design can bring,” Helen explains. “With larger displays of these rocks, we hope the impact is even greater.”
President/CEO of the MADE Chamber + CDC, Sherry Taylor, believes that a fun, active and beautiful Mason Mile, which is home to over 100 locally owned businesses, will help attract visitors and residents to Mason. “This initiative checks all of those boxes for us as it adds a fun environment with the creativity of the rocks, it helps people be active throughout the Mile as they travel to and from the rock gardens and the rock art adds to the beauty and aesthetics of the neighborhood," Sherry explains.
Community members can still get involved by visiting the Mason Mile Rocks public group on Facebook, where a map of all the rock gardens is available. Rocks can be painted and dropped off at the MADE Chamber front porch, 316 W. Main St.
“What’s been most meaningful to me has been the wonderful talent and creativity I’ve witnessed and the goodwill among all those involved,” Peg says. “I see parents with their children or friends walking down Main Street, looking closely at the rocks, and I know that we have done a good thing.”
It’s a simple idea with a big impact—just one more reason to love exploring downtown Mason.
For more information and a map of the rock garden locations, check out the Mason Mile Rocks public Facebook page Facebook.com/Share/g/16aQC5bN8S or MADECDC.org.
"We now have 13 gardens of various sizes and over 1,400 painted rocks.”-Peg Elfers