The City of Ames Planning and Housing Department, along with Story County Conservation, is facilitating community participation in the annual international “Chalk the Walks” event planned for Tuesday, Aug. 17. Residents are encouraged to participate by spreading positive messages and images in chalk at several public locations.

Chalk the Walks, a project of The Joy Team, is an annual event intended to spread happiness by chalking positive messages on sidewalks and sharing them with thousands of others across the globe through social media. The event began in Vancouver, Wash., in 2011, and has spread to all 50 states and several countries. Chalk will be provided for public use at the following locations:

• Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave.
• Ames Community Center, 515 Clark Ave.
• Hutchison Park, 4517 Hutchison St.
• Greenbriar Park, 1120 S 16th St.
• Georgie Tsushima Memorial Skate Park, 1330 Sixth St.
• Roosevelt Park, Ninth St.
• Campustown Court, SE corner of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street

Other locations include the Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor, 1815 Plaza Loop, and McFarland Park, 56461 180th St.

Organizers are asking participants to post photos of chalk art to City of Ames social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) using #AmesChalkTalk and #ChalkTheWalks. For more information, please contact Julie Gould at 515.239.5443 or julie.gould@cityofames.org