In lieu of symphony concert, Liberty Lake will usher in fall with sidewalk art contest

The city of Liberty Lake will usher in fall with its first sidewalk chalk art contest for all ages on Sept. 5, with the goal being a series of colorful drawings scattered around the city that people can visit at their leisure.

“It’s kind of an informal way of providing an event to the community,” said Operations and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp. “Sept. 5 was supposed to be the symphony concert. It’s our version of a holiday celebration.”

Camp said people have been looking for things they can do while social distancing. The city held a drive-in fireworks show on the Fourth of July holiday that was very well-received.

“Everyone absolutely loved it,” she said.

The city of Bellingham did a similar sidewalk chalk art contest earlier this summer, and Camp said it piqued her interest. She thought it would work well in Liberty Lake and shared it on the city’s Facebook page. People were excited about doing something like that here, she said.

“We haven’t been able to do anything,” she said. “It was a very unique year. Everybody was canceling things left and right.”

Mayor Shane Brickner was also on board, Camp said.

“He just so badly wants to have something positive in the community,” she said.

The city also worked with the Spokane Regional Health District to get approval for the event.

Residents are encouraged to create their art on their sidewalk, then submit a picture and their address by Sept. 3 online at forms.gle/dCYEQTPX4W9ELeHS6. The Chalk and Walk event is set for Sept. 5, when the city’s map of chalk art locations will be live. The map will include only addresses, not people’s names.

Judges will determine the winners in various age categories and the neighborhood with the most entries will be recognized.

“There’s no prizes,” Camp said. “It’s just for bragging rights.”

Apartment residents who don’t have their own sidewalk are invited to go to Pavillion Park, Rocky Hill Park or Orchard Park the day of the event, where there will be space for people to use.

“We’re cordoning off sections that are socially distanced,” Camp said.

People who want to draw in the parks do not need to register in advance. The event runs all day, so there’s no specific time when people need to show up. Artists should write their name next to their drawing. People are encouraged to maintain social distancing while in the neighborhoods and parks as they view the chalk art.

The day will include some professional art. The Liberty Lake Kiwanis donated $300 in prize money to artists for chalk art inspired by the new carousel mural at Pavillion Park.

“It was the idea of the Kiwanis group,” Camp said. “They came up with doing a call to artists.”

Several submissions were received, and the winner of that contest is Tannea Zollinger, who created a carousel horse in chalk. She will draw her creation in Pavillion Park near the carousel mural on the day of the event.

“It’s really cool,” Camp said.

The Liberty Lake Library also is involved in inspiring people to participate, creating a video posted to Facebook that includes local community leaders, including the mayor, talking about the Chalk and Walk event.

City activities and events coordinator Anita Eylar has been traveling the city creating her own chalk art on sidewalks to encourage others to participate. She has drawn a lion and plans to draw a goat at Rocky Hill Park. The park is one of the locations where the city’s goats are often deployed to eat noxious weeds.