Lisa Chibis-Tapper looked around the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden outside of the Akron Art Museum and remembered her visit a year ago to the city.
“This was a black asphalt parking lot a year ago,” the New York City resident recalled. “This is certainly much nicer. ... Beautiful. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s nice to have green spaces in the city.”
Chibis-Tapper said she and her two children, daughter Kaliope, 12, and 9-year-old son, Kagan, leave the New York borough of Queens and visit Akron each summer for at least five weeks.
“My parents still live here. I grew up in Kenmore,” she said.
They were among many visitors to the official daylong celebration as part of Saturday’s official dedication of the $5 million, one-acre terraced park. The site, next to the museum between Broadway and High Street, starting July 28 will host the Downtown@Dusk concerts.
The project was funded largely by museum supporters Rick and Alita Rogers and is named for Rick’s parents, also art museum volunteers and supporters. The state also kicked in $400,000.
Saturday featured walking tours, music, dance and storytelling performances and more, including a “Bubble Up” area where visitors could blow bubbles.
Paul Sulongteh, 66, said he lived in Akron for 30 years and this was his first time going to the museum.
The now-retired city wastewater analyst said he typically walks past the museum on his way to the library.
But not this time.
“Very interesting,” Sulongteh said as he looked at the “Sound Hive” by Michael Marras, a hodge-podge of metallic objects in the garden’s “Upper Grove” that people were allowed to strike with drum sticks to make noise.
“It brings imagination,” Sulongteh said.
Jules Christensen, 16, also liked the Sound Hive and the rest of the garden. He visited with his parents and younger brother and sister.
“It will be cool to come back and see how it changes,” he said. “I think it’s interesting. It certainly opens up the space.”
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ.