After a year of fundraising by Rotary Club of Lincoln City, new outdoor musical instruments are ready for use at Regatta Park and a dedication ceremony will be held later this month.
“The language of music is universal, and our city’s Regatta Park is such a lovely setting for Rotary-sponsored “Music in the Park,” Rotary Executive Secretary Estle Harlan said. “A universally appreciated medium in a local setting is very consistent with the objectives of Rotary.”
Rotary Club of Lincoln City approached Lincoln City Parks and Recreation after Rotary member Barbe Gibson-Jenkins returned from a road trip where she saw a musical instrument play area at a public park and felt it would be perfect for Lincoln City. The club immediately went to work, pledging to raise funds for musical instruments at Regatta Park.
“Members of the Rotary Club of Lincoln City recognize the great benefit of music in all lives,” Gibson-Jenkins said. “With the ‘Music in the Parks’ project, our goal is to make musical instruments free and always accessible to both local residents and visitors. We hope they are played, respected, and enjoyed for many, many years.”
Lincoln City Parks and Recreation enthusiastically accepted the project proposal, and the Rotary Club spent a year fundraising over $16,000 to purchase five musical instruments.
“We sincerely thank the Rotary Club of Lincoln City for their innovation and support of our public parks and community,” Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Director Jeanne Sprague said. “What an incredible playground to have in a park! And what an amazing community partnership!”
With installation completed by Parks Maintenance last week, the new outdoor musical instruments are free for the public to enjoy.
A “Music in the Parks” dedication ceremony is set for 12. p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Hosted by Rotary and Parks and Rec., the event will be part of the Oregon Children’s Music Festival (OCMF) which runs all day. Rotary Club of Lincoln City will be dedicating the new musical instruments to the Lincoln City community, with support from Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Board, Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln City City Council.
“Swimming off the dock at Regatta Park, I hear the normal sounds of boats, children laughing, and the satisfying splash of paddles into water,” Rotary Past-President Dave Price said. “Best of all, though, was a new sound – the sound of music, coming down the hill and onto the water, from the Music in the Parks installation. I’m proud of Rotary for adding this new creative outlet for our community – and in such a spectacular setting.”
OCFM will introduce “Piano.Push.Play,” which is a project to temporarily install five grand pianos in Lincoln City Parks. Regatta Park, 51st St/Taft, Nelscott Deck, Community Center, and the Public Plaza by Bob’s Books will all receive pianos.
For more information about Lincoln City Parks and Recreation, visit lincolncityoregon.org/parksandrec.
To learn more about Rotary Club of Lincoln City, visit http://www.lincolncityrotary.org/.
