July 01, 2025

Drumming up some fun at Park Centre

By Dustin Teays

Park Centre residents were outside getting some fresh air and playing some instruments during the Social Drumming event that took place on Tuesday. (Submitted Photos)

Park Centre residents recently got to participate in a social drumming activity that had them engaging with various instruments and musical movement and, most of all, having a little bit of fun.

The event, which had residents standing on their balconies or out in the courtyard to participate, was a good way to build community among Park Centre residents and relieve stress during the pandemic.

“Due to COVID we haven’t been having group connections and it just brought everyone together and they were all dancing and listening to music and having a really good time,” wellness director at Park Centre Alyssa McCarl said.

While there are still social distancing measures in place Park Centre, staff had to be creative with how they could get their 40 or so participants in on the fun.

“We went door to door to deliver drums and maracas and all kinds of instruments to the residents that stayed home,” McCarl said.

Residents who got in on the drumming action enjoyed the musical element as they were dancing and playing instruments. The event was available for all residents to attend who wanted to participate.

“We had actually three or four people that came down in wheelchairs who normally wouldn’t be too physically active that were able to get some movement by just using the drums and using the maracas ... It just didn’t limit anyone,” McCarl said.

Among some of the residents who participate in the Social Drumming was Dale Hartgraves, who saw there was quite the crowd of people enjoying the event. Hartgraves does hope that this event can be something held again in the future.

“It was good music and it was a lot of fun,” Hartgraves said. “I think everybody enjoyed it.”

With the positive response from residents, the hope is to make the activity a regular occurrence at Park Centre. Staff and residents alike were able to get away from the stress of the current times for a little while and have a good time as a community.

“This is something we would like to offer just ourselves to lead here at Park Centre on a monthly basis,” McCarl said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com