Community in Harmony: Bethany Smisson’s Motivation for Melody

At Impact Parks, our mission has always been to create spaces that bring people together across generations, abilities, and backgrounds. A big part of that success comes from the incredible brands we partner with, each bringing their own unique perspective and innovation to play and recreation.

In this special breakout blog series, we’re excited to spotlight the visionary partners behind the products and experiences that help us build these inclusive and intergenerational outdoor spaces. From musical play to fitness and more, these partners help turn parks into places where everyone can connect, move, and thrive together. Our first feature is Bethany Smisson’s from Freenotes Harmony Park.

Bethany Smisson, Sales and Business Development Manager for Freenotes Harmony Parks, talks with IMPACT Parks about her passion for connecting music and recreation into a transformative space where everyone has their own note to play.

With over 13 years of experience, Bethany’s background in the recreation industry and her high energy allows her to create meaningful connections that strengthen communities through inclusive play spaces with the transformative power of sound and rhythm. 

When Bethany discovered the powerful connection between music and recreation, she saw an opportunity to create something truly special, and Freenotes Harmony Park helped bring that vision to life. From full-time mom to Sales and Business Development Manager, Bethany now channels her passion and energy into transforming public spaces into joyful, inclusive environments where everyone can play their own note.

We had the amazing opportunity to talk more with Bethany about Freenotes and the joy music brings to people's lives.  

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time at Freenotes?

A: I’m most proud of the impact my work has on people’s lives. Every day, I have the opportunity to create meaningful connections—whether through my interactions with others or the joy people experience while playing our instruments. There’s something truly magical and powerful about witnessing the pure happiness on someone’s face as they engage with music.

Q: Who is involved in making project dreams become a reality?

A: Anyone and everyone! All it takes is an idea and someone to pursue that idea. We love working with people from all different backgrounds to help put instruments in outdoor spaces. Our goal is to always link arms to make the process easy. 

Q: What steps does someone need to take to build a music park?

A: Building a music park is easier than it may seem. If you have the space and the budget, we can help with the rest. Our dedicated team can help select different instruments based on what you are trying to accomplish in the space. If funding is an issue, we can always start small and add instruments later for other phases. 

Q: How do Freenotes Harmony Park's instruments promote inclusivity and intergenerational play?

A: Our instruments are made to be accessible by everyone and inclusive of everyone. They can be installed at different heights to meet the needs of all users. We also have adaptive mallets that can be purchased so that an individual who may not have the fine motor skills to grasp a mallet can easily slide their hand into an inclusive mallet so they can focus more on playing the instrument versus having to grasp a mallet. 

Q: What types of outdoor musical instruments does Freenotes Harmony Park offer?

A: We offer a wide variety of instruments. We have instruments that look more whimsical, like flowers, butterflies, and caterpillars, and then we have the more traditional-looking instruments like xylophones, chimes, and drums. All of our instruments are going to complement each other, so you can’t go wrong picking and choosing from any of our offerings. 

Q: What are the benefits of incorporating music parks into public spaces?

A: There are so many mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of adding music to your space. It brings people together, engages the whole brain, reduces stress, creates community and collaboration, and it’s inclusive and multi-generational! 

Music is the universal language, and it brings people together. Plus, imagine walking up to an instrument you’ve never seen or played before, and it immediately sounds beautiful. Our instruments are made with no wrong notes, so you feel successful as soon as you begin playing. 

Q: How do you envision the future of musical play in public spaces, and where does Freenotes Harmony Park fit into that vision?

A: I see musical play in public spaces continuing to grow and evolve. While incorporating music into outdoor parks is not new to us at Freenotes, it remains a relatively fresh concept for many communities. As awareness of the power of music in outdoor settings increases, more people are engaging with these spaces and experiencing their benefits. I believe Freenotes Harmony Park will continue to lead the way in providing high-quality, outdoor musical instruments, and I envision us pioneering innovative, never-before-seen instruments that further enhance these environments.

Well, now we have this sudden urge to go make some music! Thanks for sharing, Bethany!