VIDEO: Public pianos are playing again

There are seven of them stationed around Kelowna's parks.

Restored and beautifully decorated pianos are out there for everyone to enjoy.

Festivals Kelowna oversees the program that's been around for seven years now, and they're back in the parks again this week.

"I love it," said spokesperson Renata Mills.

"I think the beauty of these pianos is, not only do they physically animate a space with the visual art of the designs, but you can hear the music."

Miles Wilson was walking past the brightly painted piano on Kelowna's Art Walk and sat down to play.

"We need that," said Wilson. "We need more beauty in the world and I'm so happy there's instruments for us to express the underlying emotions that music represents."

The pianos can be found on the waterfront in front of both Stuart Park and nearby Kerry Park, in the tunnel at the south end of City Park, on the Art Walk between the parkade and the courthouse, Outside the Rotary Centre and at Roxby Square in Rutland.

The pianos are locked in place, but they are vulnerable and Festivals Kelowna does see vandalism from time to time.

"Sadly, we do. The nice thing about our city is people love it," explained Mills. "So they will keep an eye out for the piano so it's kind of that community approach. But we have had incidents over the years where someone somehow took a hatred to a piano and went to town."

The good news is there are always people willing to support the program by donating a piano.

"We are very lucky that way," Mills added. "In fact, I get a call every day."

Mills loves being reminded about the presence of the pianos with the faint sound of music in the distance.

"Yesterday we were walking to a meeting and you could hear the sounds in Stuart Park right over in front of city hall."

At Festivals Kelowna, the projects are often fun, and positive, but these pianos are truly something special, said Mills.

"And everyone gets to discover their inner Mozart."