All throughout this past summer I’ve kept a lookout for the rock stackers in the Patapsco River in Ellicott City. Beginning back in the summer of 2008, people began making temporary rock art by stacking rocks in the river and this impromptu art happening was revived in the summer of 2009. This summer however, the rock stackers seemed to have lost interest until now, the last official week of summer.I was glad to see the tradition revived, even it was a bit late.
Over in Columbia, Symphony Woods was bustling with another type of rock activity today as final preparations were underway for Saturdays Virgin Mobile Free Fest at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Both inside the pavilion grounds and out in the parking areas, tents were going up and stages were being constructed for the eleven hour free music festival courtesy of Sir Richard Branson.
This event has a huge economic impact on Howard County, not only on the day and evening of the event but also the days leading up to it and the days following when everything gets packed up and put away. Without Merriweather and the events like Free Fest, Symphony Woods would just be a pretty stand of woods with no people. Hopefully CA will keep this mind as they finalize their plans for the remaking of Columbia’s central park.
