Piano at Green Bay’s Tank Park destroyed, neighbor picks up the pieces
The colorful piano had only been in Tank Park for about a month-and-a-half before it was found destroyed.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Neighbors of Tank Park on Green Bay’s near-west side are expressing disappointing after finding a newly installed public piano in pieces.
It’s one of seven pianos placed in parks across the city as part of the Tarleton Theatre’s “Keys to the City Piano Festival” with the goal of engaging the community with music.
The first person who arrived to pick up the pieces was the Green Bay man who helped put it there.
Tarl Knight, owner of the Tarleton Theatre, says he found out on social media about what happened to the piano he helped to place in his neighborhood back in May.
Within an hour, he drove up to the demolished piano with a broom and a shovel and started cleaning up the damage.
Knight, who also serves as Green Bay neighborhood chairman, says his investment in the project and the community makes this cleanup his duty.
“It’s my job to come out and clean up our park, especially with it being an investment of mine, the piano. It’s something that I loved seeing unfold, and I loved working with the artists and the musicians to put it together. So I just get to come out as a community member today and make sure the park stays clean,” he said.
This isn’t the first incident involving these painted pianos, according to Knight. He shared photos of a similar incident about one month ago where a painted piano in Fisk Park was also left in pieces.
“Unfortunately when we invest in areas that could really use some affordable arts and culture, unfortunately that doesn’t always last,” he adds.
Despite Knight’s disappointment, he says his dedication to the yearly ‘Keys to the City’ will continue.
“It’s too bad this happened and I’m upset about it, but it’s important to invest in our community and art, even if there are sometimes hiccups in the plan.”
Green Bay police said they are aware of the incident at Tank Park and are actively attempting to make contact with a reported witness.
The community can still enjoy “Keys to the City” public pianos at 8th Street Park, Fort Howard Park, Marquette Park, St. James Park and Seymour Park.
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