DERBY, Kan. (KSNW) — The Derby Public Library celebrated the grand opening of its new Rhythm & Read Park Thursday evening, a project nearly 10 years in the making.

The 16,000-square-foot pocket park features covered seating, an event lawn, interactive musical instruments, a splash pad, and a colorful mural.

Library Director Eric Gustafson said the idea started small. “We thought, you know, we have a wonderful indoor early literacy area where you can learn to read by playing. What do we do outside to kind of complement that?” Gustafson said. “So we got the idea — what about some musical instruments and some picnic tables? I took that idea to my board, and they’re like, ‘That sounds great. Can you do more?’”

Over the next five years, the plan grew into something bigger.

“This evolved fro

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