The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon stands in Washington Park south of the city centre, a 132-foot tower housing one of the largest carillons in North America. The tower has been expanded several times since its original construction and now contains 67 cast bells ranging in size from a few kilograms to nearly three tonnes. The instrument is played from a clavier in the base of the tower — visitors can watch the carillonist at work during performances.
Washington Park itself is a pleasant green space with a conservatory, a sunken garden, and a small lake. The park is a popular summer destination for Springfield families, and the carillon concerts draw regular audiences who bring blankets and picnics for the evening performances. The combination of outdoor classical music and historic American parkland has an unhurried quality that is difficult to find elsewhere in the city.