The piano placed in Athens Square Park by Sing For Hope was vandalized on June 26 with all of its keys and part of its inner workings removed. Photo Karamvir Singh Residents and pianists of Astoria were greeted with a disturbing sight on Saturday, June 26 at Athens Square Park upon the discovery that one of the pianos placed last week by the organization Sing For Hope had been completely destroyed.

“It’s an unfortunate event,” Sing For Hope’s Chris Herbert said. “The piano was removed, however, we hope to be able to bring a replacement to Athens Square Park soon.”

On June 21, the pianos were installed in sixty locations across the five boroughs of New York City. Presented by the nonprofit organization Sing For Hope, the program called, “Play Me, I’m Yours” allows New Yorkers from all walks of life and visitors from around the globe to engage in making music right on the city’s streets. In Western and Central Queens, six pianos were placed in neighborhoods with large and multi-cultural populations. The locations include Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Athens Square Park in Astoria, Rufus King Park in Jamaica, Hoffman Playground in Elmhurst and on 37th Avenue in front of the Jackson Heights Post Office.

The badly vandalized piano at Athens Square Park, 30th Street and 30th Avenue, had all of its keys and part of its inner gears removed. Volunteer caretakers called “Piano Buddies” reported the vandalism.

“It was these volunteers who made the discovery but did not see anything,” Herbert said. “We are trying our best to keep the other pianos safe.”

According to Sing For Hope, each instrument is unique because local and student artists affiliated with the organization’s art and educational outreach programs painted the pianos.

The pianos will be available until July 5. The public is welcome to play them from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. except in a few locations closer to residential areas that will close at 8 p.m. At the end of the project, the pianos will be donated by Sing for Hope to New York City schools and hospitals.

Founded by a group of opera singers, Sing For Hope mobilizes more than 600 world-class artists from classical musicians to photographers to Broadway performers who donate time and talent in volunteer service programs used to benefit schools, hospitals and communities.