Rotary Club Of Wilmington Installs Musical Instruments As Art In Local Park

From the City of Wilmington:

Post Date:10/22/2019 2:00 PM

City Park borders the Brandywine River at Market Street and is managed by DNREC’s State Division of Parks

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz and Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Kelley today thanked the Rotary Club of Wilmington for the completion of a project that they said adds additional charm to one of the City’s popular parks. The Mayor said he is pleased to share the following Rotary news release and a video from yesterday of local musical artist Jonathan Whitney demonstrating the new park instruments. “Over the past few years, we have seen organizations throughout the city making significant contributions to improve our city,” Mayor Purzycki said. “I am grateful for this addition from the Rotary Club of Wilmington and look forward to hearing the music that will be created here.”

Rotary Club of Wilmington Dedicates Musical Instruments for Public Use in H. Fletcher Brown Park

WILMINGTON OCTOBER 21, 2019: The Rotary Club of Wilmington officially unveiled on Monday an installation of purpose-built outdoor musical instruments for use by adults and children in H. Fletcher Brown Park at the Brandywine River end of Market Street in Wilmington.

“This new installation is designed to promote both community and creativity at the park for the young and the young at heart,” said Lisa Detwiler, President of the Rotary Club of Wilmington. ”We hope these new instruments will be used to create and strengthen bonds of friendship in this community.”

Shawn M. Garvin, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, called the new instruments a welcome addition to one of the state’s great parks.
“It’s exciting to know that visitors to the H. Fletcher Brown Park will not only be able to enjoy the beautiful landscape of this park, but can also participate in creating a beautiful soundscape for all to enjoy,” Secretary Garvin said.

Prior installations in this park have included several education stations that were designed in consultation with area school partners at the Community Education Building and at the Friere Charter School. The most challenging need the schools described was the need to have high-quality musical instruments available for children to explore.

The circle of musical instruments, surrounding the Rotary Club’s symbol in brick pavers, was dedicated to the memory of a long-time Wilmington Rotarian, Jonathan Whitcomb, whose extraordinary volunteer service was recognized with the awarding of the club’s highest honor for service above self, just this past July, a few weeks before his untimely death.

The Rotary Club of Wilmington has been in continuous operation for nearly 105 years, making it one of the oldest Rotary Clubs in the world. During that long and distinguished history of service to the people of Wilmington, this group of dedicated men and women have committed themselves to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and to service above self – the Rotary International motto.

In addition to generous personal donations from many club members, the Rotary Club of Wilmington applied for and received an international Global Grant and a local Rotary District 7630 grant to complete these park improvements. The club partnered with four Rotary Clubs in India to secure the Global Grant funding from the Rotary International Foundation.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Wilmington, the public is invited to visit the club’s website at www.rotarywilmington.org. This dedication ceremony was recorded on Facebook Live and is available on the club’s Facebook Page.

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.