A local organisation is planning to build a musical playground in Wānaka. 

Wānaka Musicians Society chair Janet Dolan said the playground “will consist of specially designed outdoor musical instruments which can be played individually or together”.

Musical playgrounds, which are popular overseas, are generally located in public spaces like parks and are designed to encourage greater involvement in music-making and musical experiences in young people.

Janet said some musical playgrounds are designed to cater specifically to very young children but it “depends on the instruments you put in”.

The society hopes to create a musical playground which will appeal to a wide range of ages.

The Wānaka Musicians Society has been operating for more than 30 years and it is behind the annual Stars in Your Eyes event.

Money raised from Stars in Your Eyes will help to fund the project, Janet said.

“We have already allocated $20,000 from our savings and we hope to commit a further $20,000 from this year’s show profits,” she said.

As for the location of the musical playground, Janet said the society is open to ideas. 

“We don’t have a space in mind. Someone had suggested Lismore Park, another Eely Point.

“It really just depends on what fits in with the community plan…as long as it’s accessible for the community.”

She said the size and range of instruments in the playground would depend on the space allocated for it.

Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer and member Chris Hadfield have agreed to work with the society to help identify a suitable location.

PHOTO: Supplied