As a public artist, Kristine Kollasch believes in the power of community art involvement as a catalyst for community pride, ownership and respect for one’s surroundings. In keeping with this concept, the artist proposed a project that would engage teens living in Glendale group homes in the process of creating permanent public art at the Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden. The project proposed to artistically revitalize the “Contemplation Garden” at the park, a round walled area with a fountain that no longer functioned. The project involved turning the dry fountain into a fountain-like planter with mosaic tiles created by the participating teens, and painting a mural on the interior round wall of the area.