Calling it an “awesome addition” to Fountain Park, the Town Council unanimously approved a joint effort with the Four Peaks Rotary Club and others to install a “Harmony Park” playground.

The Rotary Club will take the point on the project for fundraising, acquiring up to 12 instruments for the site and installation. The Cultural and Civic Association and the Greening of the Downtown Committee are managing new landscaping for the area.

The instruments are to be installed within the large oval open area between playgrounds on the south end of the park. The total cost for 12 instruments, installation and landscaping is estimated to be $68,200.

While the plan is to use the park site, there are no public funds proposed for the project. It is to be done through private fundraising, although Mayor Linda Kavanagh did mention the possibility of $10,000 in grant funding available next year.

Steve Ryan with the Four Peaks Rotary Club said the instruments would be purchased and installed as money becomes available for them.

Councilman Alan Magazine asked whether benches are being planned for the area.

Community Services Director Mark Mayer said there is a waiting list of individuals who want to place benches as memorials so there should be no problem acquiring them for the harmony park area.

The instruments are described as having “concert quality sound” with about 90 decibels at the source dropping to 60 decibels 164 feet away. The nearest residential housing is 300 feet from the park site.

“I’m very excited to have this addition to the park,” Councilman Nick DePorter said. “(The instruments) really do look like public art.”

Neither Rotary nor staff had any information regarding when construction or installation could begin. The fundraising component has an undetermined time frame.