The sound of music rings in City Park

The 65th birthday wish of City of Port Lavaca Interim City Manager Jody Weaver is slowly coming to life at the Born Learning Trail at City Park.

“After the city had worked with the Calhoun County United Way to construct the Born Learning Trail at City Park, I saw an opportunity to add to the trail’s station, a ‘Listen, Talk and Sing’ music park like I had seen in Covington, Louisiana, right before COVID,” said Weaver. “The kids had put on an impromptu play for the enjoyment of their grandparents, and I had an epiphany. Children love to pretend, act, dance or sing on the stage for family and with their friends as part of their play. Children can make up songs or just enjoy making music with the instruments in the music park or be the accompaniment for friends pretending on the stage.”

Weaver knew that such a project was going to be expensive and require lots of community work. 

“In 2023, with my 65th birthday coming up, I worked with Tania French’s Something More Foundation to ask for tax-deductible donations towards what became my ‘65th Birthday Dream,’” said Weaver. “I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to generate public support and financial resources to help make this happen.” 

She said she missed being involved in the children’s program after working  with the Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre for more than 20 years.

“I’ve always loved live theatre and directed plays even when I was in high school. I became active in the Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre and was chosen to direct The Wizard of Oz in 1999. Because I was the mother of three school-age kids and wanted something to do with my girls, I had the idea of doing the play with all kids,” said Weaver. “It was such a success, for those involved in the show and those in the audience, that I continued with that same recipe for success through 2019. As with the entire community, the onset of COVID in 2020 halted the children’s production and the program suffered.”

Due to Weaver’s position as interim city manager, she was short of the time she needed to devote to her passion. 

“I wanted to help provide a space where young children can explore a possible similar love of the arts within themselves,” said Weaver. 

During the beginning stages of the structure, the United Way of Calhoun County got a $10,000 grant and purchased four of the musical instruments. According to Weaver, additional funding for the stage and the music park came from a past Rotary District Grant, the Port Lavaca Rotary Club, concrete and CMU work by Gonzales Construction at a substantial discount, along with many donations from Weaver’s birthday fundraiser and her own personal funds to fill in the gaps.

Calhoun County United Way Executive Director Wendy Cabrera said they are excited to see the new musical instruments come to life alongside the Born Learning Trail. 

“We hope this space gives kids and families a fun, hands-on way to get creative, try something new, and express themselves through music, without worrying about playing the ‘right’ notes,” said Cabrera. “We can’t wait to see everyone out here making music, learning and enjoying time together. We’re so thankful to everyone who helped make this happen.”

The instruments at the park are made with stainless steel frames and aluminum and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and polyurethane plastic parts. Open for play is a Talk Tube, a Babel Drum, a cadenza, a set of conga drums, Harmony Flower Bells, a Soprano Pentatonic Free chimes and an existing xylophone in the adjacent playscape. The instruments are secured to a concrete pavement and positioned for a 5-foot clearance around each instrument so there is plenty of room for energetic play even by children accessing the park using a wheelchair. More information about the types of musical instruments can be found at www.percussionplay.com.

The Born Learning Trail is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, even though the music park area is not specifically lit for after dark play. The trail is geared mainly for preschool and elementary aged children. However, the instruments are designed for multi-generational fun.

Weaver said there is still more to come to the trail. 

“Once the concrete cures well, we will be adding artwork to the concrete pavement. Local artist Michael Sanchez has volunteered to help with that. Soon we will be priming the child-size stage adjacent to the music park and painting onto the concrete block walls various storybook characters from the many children’s plays that have been performed at the Port Lavaca Main Street Theatre,” said Weaver. “We are currently seeking additional funding to construct benches for the stage and a shade structure to the storytelling station of the Born Learning Trail using $5,000 of matching funds we have which were donated by Lester Contracting in memory of Mayor Ken Lester.”

Weaver said a permanent sign will be installed to recognize the many people and organizations that helped bring the park to a reality. Weaver said she hopes that future events will one day be scheduled at the Born Learning Trail.

Those wishing to help with finishing touches and volunteer artists are asked to contact Weaver at jweaverbruin76@yahoo.com.