AT 95, Marj Saunders has seen her share of parties -- balloons, cake, presents, flashing cameras, and a crowd of people dressed in their Sunday best.

But last Saturday's event was different.

As cars whizzed, clanked and struggled up the hill at the corner of Chelton and Ascot drives on Saturday morning, some residents honked in support, as the area around the Painted Rock and waterfall was officially renamed Marj Saunders Park.

Saunders paused for a photo in front of the Painted Rock -- now decorated with the words "Thank you Marj."

Residents petitioned to rename the 2-acre area, formerly known as Sulphur Springs, in her honor to thank her for 63 years of community activism, advocacy for open space and dedication to keeping her neck of the woods tidy.

Over the years, Saunders helped pave the way for a former Boy Scout camp to become what's now Montera Middle and Joaquin Miller Elementary schools, worked to ensure the reopening of Chelton Road after a landslide, helped defeat plans for a four-lane highway on Skyline Boulevard, and fought to preserve Beaconsfield Canyon.

"Marj has been the rock of this community," said Dick Spees, president of the Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association and a former city councilman. "So it's appropriate that the painted rock would be named after her.

Saunders grew up in the East Bay and moved to Piedmont Pines in 1941, when the area consisted of summer homes and chicken farms. There were only three places to visit in Montclair at the time, she said: the hardware store, grocery store and the drug store.

The volunteer has worked tirelessly to maintain the beauty she fist saw in the hills when she moved here said City Councilman at large, Henry Chang, a hills resident.

City Councilwoman Jean Quan, who represents the area, said Saunders is a role model for everyone in the community.

"When Marj commits to doing something, she sets a path for the rest of us," said City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente.

Saunders was overcome by emotion at the ceremony and didn't address the crowd.

But amidst the hugs and congratulations, she took a moment to lean toward Jim Ryugo of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Department and whisper, "We have a lot of work to do."

Reach Tricia Caspers at tcaspers@cctimes.com or 510-748-1682.