Volunteers Clean Up Moraga's Painted Rocks

Moraga's Painted Rocks don't exactly qualify as a natural wonder — an unremarkable sandstone outcropping overlooking the town above the intersection of Rheem Boulevard and Moraga Road.

For years the escarpment has been the focus of attention for teams of paint-wielding teens celebrating everything from graduation to their latest soccer win, and the rocks had become a dumping ground for empty paint cans and other trash. Last week, a dedicated crew of townsmen took it upon themselves to scale the hill and clean up the mess left behind by midnight "rock painters."

"We had to wait until the grass dried, but again, the volunteers in Moraga pulled through," wrote Town Manager Jill Keimach. "This all started with a mention of the excessive number of empty paint cans in the Patch."

Jill reported that Tom Preston "offered to do anything for the town," and cleaning up the rocks was on the town's list. Tom threw in a repaint of the front bench and wall of the library for good measure, apparently, and Jay Ingram got permission from property owner Roger Poynts to go onto his property.

Four men hiked the hill to do the dirty work and "get it done." They were: Tom Preston, Patrick Pardee, Steven Correa, and Estuardo Veliz.

As Jill called it: "A great team effort by all, including Patch readers who brought the issue to our attention."

Patch gives a huge "thumbs up" to everyone who participated — and to Jill, of course, for making this happen.

Patch likes progress.