The (Fountain) Hills will soon be alive with the sound of music, thanks to the Rotary Community Musical Park which is currently in development.

The 14-instrument fixture planned for installation in Fountain Park is expected to wrap up construction by the end of the summer but, before that can happen; organizers are on the lookout for some additional support to fund the project.

Four Peaks Rotary members Peter Donzelli, Steve Ryan and William Pape are helping pull the community together for this project which will introduce a musical element to the playground area of Fountain Park.

“This project coincides with what Rotary is all about,” said Donzelli.

“Whether it be a Splash Pad or Musical Park…one of our main goals is to provide for the youth. [The Musical Park] is also a super fit because it’s just another thing to foster the idea about Fountain Hills. It’s another means of enticing people to visit and enjoy Fountain Hills.”

As the trio notes, music is a universal language; the only one spoken no matter where you go.

Project organizers pulled inspiration from similar musical parks established in Mesa and Sedona, both of which recently introduced Freenotes musical instruments to entertain and engage visitors.

“Both communities discovered that the Freenotes instruments create environments that are useable by all people, including people with disabilities, diverse culture and are easily played by people regardless of age, mobility, visual, auditory or musical training,” explains the Musical Park background information.

“Freenotes instruments offer a unique play experience connecting people through creativity, unique soundscape and sculptural design in an outdoor environment.”

The planned site for Fountain Hills’ Musical Park is the large turf field at the center of the playground structures in Fountain Park. Trees will provide a natural sound muffler for the area, with the 14 instruments arranged in a circle at the center of the field. The instruments are large, durable and weather resistant, specifically built for outdoor use.

“I think music, by itself, is a heck of an attraction,” Ryan said.

“While water at the Splash Pad attracts kids and, by extension, parents sometimes, musical instruments practically side by side brings kids, parents, grandparents and more. It’s a heck of a reason to go to the park.”

All told, the project comes in at a just over $100,000, total, though half of the instruments and other portions of the project are already funded.

According to organizers, the project is a collaboration between the Town of Fountain Hills, Four Peaks Rotary, Fountain Hills Rotary, the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association and the Greening of Downtown committee.

With construction planned to begin in early summer and expected to wrap up just a couple of months later, the coordinators from the Four Peaks Rotary Club said that donations are still needed to finish up the project. All larger contributions will be commemorated on plaques that will accompany the various park installations.

The biggest item in need of funding is shade sails, which would require a $25,000 sponsorship. Various other sponsorship levels are also available, including Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($5,000), Silver ($2,500) and Copper ($1,000).

Instrument sponsorships are also available, with one or more sponsorship slots available for each instrument. This level is available at $500.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Steve Ryan at ryanjmst@aol.com or call 480-836-2177. Interested parties can also contact Sandy Davis at davisfnd@cox.net or call 602-920-0505.

A website has also been set up at rotarycommunitymusicalpark.com, where interested parties will soon be able to make contributions directly through the site. Organizers said that contributions of any amount would be appreciated and go toward the completion of the Musical Park.

Alternately, checks may be made out to the Four Peaks Rotary Foundation with “Musical Park” included on the memo line. All donations are tax deductible and may be sent to Four Peaks Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 18111 Fountain Hills, AZ 85269.

“This will add to everyone’s overall enjoyment of the park, I think,” added Pape.

“It gives a totally different sort of approach to the park. It’s handicap accessible and designed for both adults and kids, and they’re very high quality instruments.

“The location is also absolutely stunning for something like this. When it gets completed, it’s just going to be a beautiful thing.”