Take the Kids: Let them make their mark at 'giant coloring books' at two Raleigh parks

Totten tells me that she came up with the idea soon after the start of the pandemic. She started thinking about ways to get people, but especially kids, engaged with art outside and in an interactive way.

"Kids are so often told, 'don't touch this, don't do that,'" said Totten, who has two young kids of her own. "There are so many boundaries to what they can do, but they are so creative."

So Totten started murals at the parks — and left it for kids (and their adults) to fill in the blanks.

At both Worthdale and Roberts parks, Totten has painted murals that are basically outlines of people, animals and other shapes that kids can add their own ideas to using chalk. Deft and level built small enclosures to hold the chalk for kids to use.

"We've referred to it as a giant coloring book," Totten said. "It's a start of things."

As part of the project, the city also is distributing art kits to support Raleigh kids while they're at home. They were distributed in the Worthdale neighborhood and through the Food Bank, Belva Parker, the city's arts program director, tells me.

The Worthdale mural was finished in November. The Roberts Park piece was ready for coloring at the end of March. And Totten said there are plans for more.

"When we put out a call with neighbors, there was a lot of interest," Totten said.

If you go, Worthdale Park is at 1001 Cooper Rd., Raleigh. Roberts Park is located at 1300 E. Martin St., Raleigh.