After last year's "Public Piano" in Stevens Point became a smash hit with residents in the downtown area, the fixture will be back for a second year.
Mayor Mike Wiza says there’s a new donated piano after last year's succumbed to the elements.
“With the heat and the cool and the rain, it got out of tune relatively quickly. We only had it for maybe two months, and we had to throw it out because it was beyond repair.”
Wiza says this year they've constructed a lean-to which may provide some extra weatherproofing.
Wiza says once the piano is installed anyone will be able to sit down and provide downtown shoppers with an impromptu recital.
“Free and open to anyone who wants to play. Be courteous, let people take their turn if they want. I know a couple of times I was down there, there were people waiting to get on their and play. They really enjoyed it. Hopefully this is a tradition that will continue as long as we keep getting donated pianos.”
Wiza says it's a great example of a quality of life project that can be done with a lot of volunteer passion and a small amount of city resource.
He expects the public piano to be installed later this week.
