Chamber Music Festival receives donation, safer access

Workers install a new railing on Hoffman Street between Griffith and Butler streets on Saturday. Work finished Monday.

The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck marked its 25th anniversary over the weekend with a gift and a safer walkway to the musical events.

Nancy Zolper of the Saugatuck Woman’s Club presented a $250 donation to Mary Ann Quick of the chamber music group on Sunday at a gathering at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts to celebrate the silver anniversary. The chamber music group will decide how to use the money.

Nancy Zolper presents a check to Mary Ann Quick on Sunday.

For the entire 25 years, the concerts have been in the Saugatuck Woman’s Club building, 303 Butler St. And for each of those years, people have been parking at the top of the hill at the First Congregational Church, 296 Hoffman, and walking down the steep hill to the club.

The walk is difficult for many, especially in the dark. So, Joy Muehlenbeck of the Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival, asked the Saugatuck City Council in the spring to put up a railing.

The council balked at the idea when prices came in as high as $12,000 to $25,000. Muehlenbeck didn’t give up and came back to the city this summer with a lower estimate of $6,600.

Installation of the railing began last weekend and was completed earlier this week.

“I’m certain residents and visitors will appreciate this gift,” she said.