Martinsville-on-the-Move brings Music to their Community
Martinsville is a small town in Illinois with a population of just 1,100, supported by a passionate group of volunteers dedicated to community development and enrichment.
Founded in 2009, Martinsville-on-the-Move has led numerous projects that enhance local life. These include the creation of Linn Park with its amphitheatre for outdoor events, downtown beautification initiatives, and scholarship funding for local students. Most recently, the group has brought music to the heart of the community by creating a memorial park featuring outdoor musical instruments.
Designing a Park That Is Fun and Accessible for Everyone
When planning the park, the group was determined that it should appeal to all ages while remaining accessible and inclusive. The design included a play area with a 90-foot slide and a 200-foot zip line, alongside outdoor fitness equipment for adults.
However, the team recognized that traditional play features such as slides and zip lines are not accessible to everyone. People with disabilities, mobility challenges, or differing abilities may find these elements difficult or impossible to use. This realization reinforced the need for fully inclusive play experiences within the park.
A Musical Memorial to Bob Hills
At the same time, Martinsville-on-the-Move wanted to create a lasting memorial to Bob Hills, a former Martinsville resident with a deep passion for music and education.
Bob established the Newcomers Swing Choir at Western Illinois University, supported high school musical productions, directed his church choir, and later re-established the Collegians Music Group at Eastern Illinois University, his alma mater. Outdoor musical instruments were seen as a fitting tribute to his life and legacy.
Funds raised through the Bob Hills Memorial fundraiser enabled the purchase of the first instrument. Additional grants from the Hershey Foundation and the Linn Foundation, contributions from Martinsville-on-the-Move, and a generous anonymous donation of $5,000 enabled the project to expand further.
Inclusive Outdoor Musical Instruments in The Woodlands
The group envisioned a beautiful walking path through an area known as The Woodlands, with outdoor musical instruments as a central feature. Above all, the instruments needed to be inclusive so that everyone could enjoy making music together.
To bring this vision to life, Martinsville-on-the-Move selected a:
The instruments arrived during the cold Illinois winter, so installation was sensibly delayed until spring. In March, the space officially opened and welcomed the community.
A New Destination for Music, Play, and Connection
Brenda Littlejohn, a member of Martinsville-on-the-Move, says, “We are delighted by the response from the community to our new instruments in the park. They provide a new element to the area, and people enjoy coming here to make music.”
The Capella and Music Book have quickly become favorites, alongside the drums, and the group has already spoken with local music teachers who see the value of the instruments for learning and performance. Plans are underway to bring students to the park to make music together in an outdoor setting.
“The outdoor musical instruments are a great addition,” Brenda adds. “They help make The Woodlands a favorite destination for people from surrounding communities in our area.”
