TORRINGTON – A bright blue sign at the Torrington Police Department invites community members to “Add a painted rock and watch me grow” as part of an unusual summer art project bringing together local law enforcement and youth.
“Pickles the Rock Snake,” as the installation has been named by participating students, represents the first community art engagement project between the Torrington Police Department and The PRACTICE Afterschool Program’s Summer BREAK Program.
The project began when Lynette Saucedo, certified program director with The PRACTICE Afterschool Program, approached Police Chief Matt Johnson in May with the creative idea.
“Of course, he thought it was a fabulous idea,” Saucedo said. “This gave our students yet another chance to use their creativity to repurpose rocks by painting them, creating their own mini masterpieces to develop the rock snake.”
The Summer BREAK Program has operated for 14 years as part of The PRACTICE Afterschool Program, which has served Goshen County families since 2001.
“This program is hosted by The PRACTICE Afterschool Program and is a ‘no-cost to families program’, funded by 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding,” Saucedo explained.
The summer program has served approximately 500 Goshen County students in grades K-5 since 2011.
Students participating in the program voted on names for their rock snake creation, with “Pickles” winning the popular vote. The colorful painted rocks now wrap around the police department’s radio tower, growing weekly as community members add their own artistic contributions.
“As part of the students voice and choice component of programming, the students created various art pieces, nominated and voted on snake names,” Saucedo explained. “Pickles provided an opportunity for our students to use their own imaginations, creativity, artistic ability, various other skills – fine motor, social skills, negotiations, community engagement.”
Chief Johnson said the collaboration represents the department’s first community project involving public artwork, though officers regularly engage with youth through formal programs like DARE and National Night Out, as well as informal community interactions.
“I believe this is our first community project involved public artwork,” Johnson said. “We enjoy connecting with our community, and especially kiddos, in any way we can.”
The police chief emphasized the importance of these positive interactions between law enforcement and young people.
“I think these types of informal interactions make a significant difference in relationship building for our agency,” Johnson said. “Anytime we can create connections in a non-enforcement capacity it helps to break down barriers and misperceptions for everyone involved. This leads to genuine relationships that allow our team to work with the community to reach common goals.”
Saucedo echoed the value of these positive encounters, citing research from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
“Afterschool and summertime programs are one of the best solutions to youth crime,” she said, quoting the organization. “When students are able to engage with Law Enforcement and other First Responders in activities and situations are not emergency or crisis situations, there is greater opportunity to develop mutual respect, understanding, mentoring relationships and trust.”
The project has drawn participation from beyond the original student group, with community members adding their own painted rocks to extend Pickles around the radio tower.
“We have been fortunate enough to have our program students and staff visit the rock snake a couple of times and add to it,” Saucedo said. “Others in the community have also developed some pretty impressive creations and added to the Rock Snake.”
Community members interested in contributing to Pickles can add painted rocks until August 22. The artwork will be removed August 23.
Both organizations expressed interest in continuing similar collaborative projects.
“We would be very interested in partnering on other art and community engagement activities with the community,” Saucedo said. “These kind of partnerships build individual and community resilience, civic engagement and community connectedness.”
The Summer BREAK Program operates at Lincoln Elementary School in partnership with Goshen County School District 1, providing students with a safe environment, mentoring, STREAM activities, community engagement, social skill development, educational field trips and college and career readiness programming.
“Our hope is to continue this programming as long as funding is available,” Saucedo said. “As part of we would love to continue working on projects with the Torrington Police Department and others in the community.”
