Throughout the summer months, Invermere residents and visitors alike have enjoyed the soft melody of a piano travelling throughout the downtown core. The public piano located at Pothole Park has been providing the public an opportunity to share their musical talents with the community. Since late June, the community has been home to the piano thanks to an idea from District of Invermere events co-ordinator Theresa Wood.

“I saw so many videos on YouTube of the public piano and I thought it would be cool for (Invermere),” said Theresa.

The piano was donated to the district by Rick and Darcel Luyendyk, who have both resided in the Columbia Valley their entire lives.

“We heard about (Theresa’s idea) through our renter who rents our house. The piano was in that house, so she heard about it and asked us what we thought. Because we were wanting to just give it away to somebody,” said Darcel.

Since being donated, the piano has received a makeover — it was painted white and decorated by Wood and District of Invermere summer student Mimi. Darcel is very supportive of the project, embracing the makeover and viewing the piano as something of a landmark for the community.

“I saw a (public) piano in Kelowna and they had people painting on it and everything and I thought that was a great idea. It just gives it a blank canvas,” said Darcel.

Theresa said they decided to paint it white to make it stand out against the contrast of the background of Pothole Park.

“I think it’s been really positive, there’s frequently people playing it,” she said.

The public piano project has received great support from the community, even having the public add special touches to the outdoor instrument.

“The cover that’s on it, the black one, someone just put it on there, and then, the other day, there was a chair there,” saidTheresa.

The piano will be removed after the September long weekend to be stored for the winter months. There is no projected date for when it will make its grand return.