Thanks to a grant from AARP, the community can enjoy making beautiful music at a new “musical garden” in Swannanoa’s Owen Park. The collection of outdoor instruments is located adjacent to the children’s playground, and includes four colorful flower gongs, lily pad cymbals, and a tenor tree.
The instruments produce a unique variety of sounds and pitch ranges that are strategically grouped to complement the outdoor environment, with no sharps or flats. The simple, ergonomic design allows the instruments to be played with the large muscles of the arms and hands, rather than the tiny muscles of the fingers, making them easy to use for people of all ages and abilities.
An article posted on the Buncombe County website states that the new musical garden space will be further enhanced over the next several months with tiles – created by community members around themes of compassion, peace and diversity – placed along the existing pathways. Josh O’Conner, Director of Buncombe County Recreation Services, is quoted as saying that “there are no bad notes when you harmoniously blend the positive power of music and community.”
The musical garden joins other recent improvements at Owen Park, including an outdoor fitness course with a variety of exercise stations, located adjacent to the basketball courts. Owen Park is located at 875 Warren Wilson Road in Swannanoa. Come on out and play!