Lexington has a slew of weekly local events designed to both entertain + bring like-minded citizens together. We do our best to share those events with you on a daily basis.

Neighborhood associations do the same thing, but on an even more hyper-local level — bringing together neighborhood residents to create an even greater sense of community.

That’s how the “Rocky the Dog” project came about — a small group of community members from a neighborhood association coming together to beautify their neighborhood, in a unique + quirky way.

“We had this little traffic island in our neighborhood that was just a disaster,” said Melanie Roederer, the Manager of Rocky the Dog. “It had been accidentally run over by cars + all of the boxwood plants were half dead.”

Melanie + a few other individuals decided to renovate the space, ripping out the old boxwood plants and building a limestone rock fence, a style popular throughout Central Kentucky.

“While we were working, my husband said, ‘ya know — if you turn that rock over, it would look like a dog,’ recalls Melanie. “So I put ears + eyes on it and we moved it to the front of the island where it was more visible.”

Thus — Rocky, the new neighborhood mascot, was born.

Today, Rocky can be found dressed up for just about any occasion: back-to-school, Labor Day, football games, even the Olympics. You name the day, and he’s probably dressed up for it.

Melanie recalled to us a few of her favorite Rockies:

“Plymouth Rocky,” for Thanksgiving
“Hockey Rocky,” for the Olympics
“Jockey Rocky,” for Keeneland

“We never expected Rocky to become so popular. People just got really involved, leaving flags near him for Memorial Day + children love leaving painted rocks,” said Melanie.

Rocky’s wardrobe has grown so large, that he now has a full neighborhood committee formed around him, ensuring that he keeps putting smiles on the faces of all that cross his path.