From left, Mayor Roberto Alves and Lazaro Chavez, executive director, CityCenter Danbury at the new Danbury Music Garden in front of the Danbury Library. Photo courtesy of Danbury Library
DANBURY – Most gardens are typically filled with flowers, but there is one in the city that is adorned with musical instruments. It’s located at the Danbury Library in the main entrance plaza. Children of all ages now have a colorful, interactive, and sensory-friendly space to laugh, play, and explore music together.
“The Instrument garden is a sustainable park that has been a long-time passion and vision, and to see this project come to life with such color and vibrancy is truly beautiful. A lot of thought has been put into it,” said Lazaro Chavez, executive director of CityCenter Danbury who has been instrumental in making downtown a welcoming destination.
“It’s a celebration of creativity, connection, and community – it’s a space where art and music meet play. It shows that when we all come together and work with a shared purpose, we can turn ideas into reality.”
The garden is the result of a three-year collaboration between the Danbury Library, FRIENDS of the Danbury Library, CityCenter Danbury, and the Danbury Garden Club.
“I saw the instruments at a conference I attended with my daughter and she loved it,” said Katie Pearson, director. “I thought it would be a great project to bring to the plaza so children and families can experience programs outside our walls.”
The all-metal outdoor instruments include blue, red, yellow, green, orange, and purple drums, a xylophone, and two sets of flower-shaped bells. “It’s a bright, eye-catching piece in a normal downtown district that draws people in,” Pearson said. “Everybody who comes by here wants to check out what’s new and interesting at the library,”
There is a nearby flower garden planted and maintained by the Danbury Garden Club.
The garden was designed by Didona Associates of Danbury at a cost of about $60,000, with funds provided by CityCenter Danbury. The instruments were purchased by the FRIENDS of the Danbury library from Percussion Play, a leading manufacturer of outdoor musical instruments. NY-CONN Corporation handled the groundwork and installation. No city money was used to fund the project.
The musical playground encourages children to play, explore, and experience music and create their own melodies and joyful sounds.
“We’re always looking to innovate and bring new people in to experience the library and all that we have to offer,” said Pearson noting some of the library’s special features include a Sensory Space, pods, a MakerLab, and Studio 170, one of the state’s first free recording spaces. “We always see what the community needs and responds to them. Now we have the instrument garden that offers many facets, including bringing programming outside on nice days and including music in our story times.”
Pearson explained the importance of having the garden downtown. “It’s a nice place for families to come and enjoy the space we have in our city, and have fun instruments to play,” she said.
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