Library hosts outdoor musical instruments

STERLING HEIGHTS — As the weather continues to warm up, Sterling Heights officials hope a new outdoor feature will be music to the ears of librarygoers and residents.

On April 16, Sterling Heights City Council members and other city officials gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the library to celebrate the recent installation of new interactive outdoor musical instruments. The instruments, which include drums and a rainbow-colored xylophone, are located near an outdoor chessboard that the library maintains.

During the event, council members tried their own hand at musical improv, and Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor had words of praise for the new amenity.

“And it’s just a cool thing to do,” Taylor said. “When you’re walking by and you see some colorful musical instruments, kids, adults, teens — you name it — can come out here and enjoy the library and enjoy this space in a unique way.”

City officials say the outdoor instruments underscore the city’s commitment to a key core value from its 2040 Visioning Plan: “Fun!” with an exclamation mark. According to Sterling Heights Community Relations Director Melanie Davis, the instrument installation cost the city around $13,000.

Library Director Tammy Turgeon told the Sentry that the library picked the setup’s xylophone, conga-like drums, sunflower pedal drum and bell-like butterfly instruments for their approachability.

“I definitely wanted the xylophone … with the colors on it and the music book that corresponds with the colors,” she said. “And then I wanted the big drum set, so we can have multiple people playing the instruments together.”

Besides drawing attention to the instrument display April 16, council members and the Sterling Heights Beautification Commission also celebrated a tree planting by the library to mark Arbor Day and the city once again earning the Tree City USA Award.

Learn more about Sterling Heights by visiting sterlingheights.gov, or find out more about the library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, by visiting shpl.net or by calling (586) 446-2665.