July 13 Chairy Orchard Meeting Recap

Parks and Recreation staff met with residents on July 13 to engage in a conversation about honoring the Chairy Orchard in a new space that captures the spirit and whimsy of the original art project. Meeting attendees benefitted from the presence of Judy Smith - one of the original Chairy Fairies - and her son, Pat Smith. The Smiths were able to provide some important context about the genesis of the project, and its mission to put smiles on peoples’ faces and provide a space for quiet contemplation. Judy also clarified that the major reason for closing the Chairy Orchard was the almost continuous small-scale vandalism that the art installation endured.

Residents provided staff with an understanding of the emotional pull of the original project: how it provoked feelings of joy and nostalgia, and offered a space for families to meet, take pictures, and build memories. Attendees spoke of a desire to maintain the whimsy of the original in any new iteration of the Chairy Orchard, and to maintain the sense of outdoor rooms that the original project provided. Furthermore, most attendees agreed that the Chairy Orchard elements should all be preserved in a single space that honored the original project and its creators.

Public input also recognized that recreating the Chairy Orchard as it existed was impossible, and that a new project allowed an opportunity to create an evolved space that remained true to the spirit of the original. In the spirit of evolution, residents mentioned a desire for a new Chairy Orchard to offer programming space for arts or yoga classes and to operate as a nature-themed outdoor classroom featuring native plants. When asked how best to honor the Chairy Fairies, Judy responded that a continuation of the Chairy Orchard in a new iteration would be honor enough, but residents spoke to a desire to plaques or signage honoring the Chairy Fairies and their special contribution to Denton and its residents.

Residents also spoke about extending the spirit of the Chairy Orchard beyond a discrete Chairy Orchard 2.0. These efforts might include an Art Chair project placing vibrantly designed large chairs across public spaces in the city, a Chairy Festival, or a scavenger hunt within the orchard itself and across the city. One individual also spoke about the desire to include a locks of love installation at the Lilly Cantu playground. Staff suggested that an interactive element like this could be added near the Lilly Cantu playground, even if the original locks of love element was included in a Chairy Orchard 2.0.

Realizing an evolutionary Chairy Orchard will require meeting some challenges. First, staff will have to identify a funding source for such a project, as none presently exists. Second, there will have to be agreement among residents regarding a location for the new project. Some residents want any new version of the orchard to remain near its original home, while others are open to the idea of having it in a more central location. Staff and residents will need to clarify what elements will be included in the new project and develop a plan to ensure the longevity and maintenance of those elements. But these challenges are not insurmountable, especially as Denton residents continue to voice strong support for the project.