Downtown Halifax outdoor piano project overcoming rainy summer

A project that saw the installation of three pianos in public spaces in Halifax has proven to be a success, even though two of the three were damaged and have been or need to be replaced.

The project called#PlayMeHfx set up pianos so that people could play them in three downtown locations:Queen's Wharf at the Halifax waterfront, Cornwallis Park and at the corner of Barrington and George streets.

A summer filled with a lot of rain meant that the pianos' exposure to the elements this summer was harsher than normal.

Regardless, people did what they could to protect the pianos.

"Anytime it rained or there was bad weather, somebody was covering up the pianos," said Peter Nightingale, a Dalhousie University planning student who was one of the people who helped get the project off the ground.

He says at the waterfrontlocation, staff of the Waterfront Development Corporation ensured the piano was looked after.

At the other two locations, it was up to the public to protect the pianos, which they largely did.

"Up until the last few rainstorms where there was just so much rain, they got missed one or two nights," said Nightingale.

The social experiment has proved to be a success.

"They will take care of them, they will adopt them and they will help keep things in good condition if you allow them to," said Nightingale.

'A second life' for pianos

The pianos have even proved to be popular at some unusual (and unwanted) times of the day.

At the Cornwallis Park piano,"There were a few incidents of late-night performers," said Nightingale.

As a result, the piano had to be locked at night. However, the lock was vandalized on multiple occasions, which sadly helped contribute to its need to be replaced.

The original Barrington Street piano was replaced about a week ago, and plans are in the works to replace the Cornwallis Park piano.

Nightingale says it hasn't been a problem to find people who would like their piano to be used for the cause.

"A lot of people really like the idea of giving their piano a second life," he said.

Nightingale says the pianos will be available to be played until the end of September.