PENDLETON — Thanks to a local service sorority, Pendleton Community Public Library will now include an area for people of all ages to test their musical skills.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Pendleton Gamma Pi Chapter of Tri Kappa recently completed installing an outdoor percussion instrument installation at the library.
“The library fell in love with it,” Gamma Pi Chapter of Tri Kappa 100 Year Anniversary Chair Sandy Childress said. “(Library Director) Lynn Hobbs took it to the library board, and they were 100% behind it. It was great because we found a host and a project that everybody was really excited about.”
The patio includes instruments from Percussion Play’s Street Quartet Ensemble, including a Large Babel Drum, Handpipes, Emperor Chimes and a Cajon.
According to Percussion Play, the instruments are crafted to thrive in the harshest urban environments. Whether in public parks, playgrounds or city streets, this ensemble is built to withstand the demands of high-use areas while delivering a rich, captivating sound. The Street Quartet is constructed from high-quality 316 stainless steel, aluminum and HDPE (high-density polyethylene), ensuring ultimate durability and corrosion resistance.
“I like instruments that aren’t your run-of-the-mill kind, so when Sally Childress from Tri Kappa approached me a couple of months ago asking if the library might be interested in installing an outdoor musical instrument park, I was intrigued,” Hobbs said in the library’s April newsletter.
The instruments are just the first of many additions coming to the percussion patio.
According to Childress, a bench has been purchased to be installed, as well as a commemorative marker with information about Tri Kappa and a list of all donors who gave $1,000 or more.
Taylor Metz, Ball State University assistant professor of landscape architecture, has also designed landscaping to be added to the patio. There is not yet a date for when the landscaping will be added.
The project, which was estimated to cost around $40,000 was paid for by fundraising, grants and donations.
An endowment through South Madison Community Foundation helped cover some of the cost. The sorority raised some of the funds through projects such as its annual cheese balls sale. The remaining funds were brought together from the contributions of 26 donors.
The outdoor patio project is just one of many things Tri Kappa has helped add to the Pendleton community. An organization of 50 women who also have careers and families, they look to support charity, culture and education.
“This embodies all three of those,” Childress said. “It’s a gift to the library, it’s cultural because it’s music and it’s educational because the library is developing programming for children around the instruments.”
The chapter also gives scholarships annually to students, gives money for the Senior Art Show, gives money to school nurses for supplies, supports Outfitters, gives money to families in need at Christmastime and throughout the year, and annually supports library programming.
Along with that, it partnered with the high school Beta Club to buy the iconic Arabian horse sculpture by the Pendleton Heights High School football field.
“They have always been a strong supporter of the library, but they have also been dedicated to supporting the arts,” Hobbs said in the April newsletter. “The arts are timeless, so what a perfect focus for a 100th birthday celebration.”
From 2-4 p.m. June 14, Tri Kappa will unveil the outdoor patio with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and will celebrate its 100th birthday.
The ceremony will include musician demonstrations on the newly installed instruments, a chance to meet the members of the philanthropic sorority, and strawberry shortcakes for dessert inside the library.
“People of all ages can stroll past the library and try their hand at creating music, either alone or with others,” Hobbs said in the April newsletter. “Surprise a friend with your version of Happy Birthday. Create your own original composition. Experiment with tone, rhythm and pitch. Or just have some musical fun.”
- The Pendleton Times Post