‘Piano man’ of Washington Sq. Park faces persistent vandalism

The longtime road performer, who has been unhoused since 2021, has confronted added monetary difficulties in current months attributable to vandalism by parkgoers.

On a sunny afternoon in late March, NYU first-year Tricia Manada was strolling previous the enduring Steinway child grand piano that usually sits in Washington Sq. Park’s east aspect. As she walked by, she heard a loud crash, and turned to see the duvet of the piano thrown on the bottom, surrounded by a bunch of snickering teenagers.

When Manada confronted the group concerning the vandalism, she stated they appeared shocked, however not apologetic. Manada stated she has been keen on the park pianist since her arrival at NYU, and has even had the prospect to play the piano herself.

“They had been attempting to behave like ‘Oh, oops,’” Manada stated. “I feel they felt dangerous, but it surely was simply in all probability as a result of I referred to as them out on it … like they don’t need to get in bother.”

Manada took {a photograph} of the kids surrounding the piano, which WSN reviewed. It exhibits a bunch of three younger folks — presumably “children,” based on Manada — laughing after taking the lid off of the piano. The lid of the piano is laying on the sidewalk. Manada stated that not less than two folks ran away shortly earlier than she captured the picture.

The piano’s proprietor, Colin Huggins, colloquially often called the “piano man” of Washington Sq. Park, stated that his piano has been vandalized many different instances over the previous couple of months. Huggins, who’s houseless and sometimes sleeps on the piano, stated that its keys have been splattered with paint and his piano bench has been damaged, amongst different situations of vandalism.

“Each time I’d stroll away from the piano and are available again to it, both simply to make use of the restroom or to get some meals, I’d all the time come again to the piano and discover one thing damaged or one thing taken or one thing vandalized,” Huggins stated.

Huggins stated that situations of vandalism have elevated in frequency just lately, because the piano has been saved outside. He has misplaced entry to storage areas for the piano he used prior to now attributable to conflicts with constructing homeowners over his cleansing strategies, based on The Village Solar. Huggins, disliking “harsh chemical compounds,” sometimes makes use of substances reminiscent of baking soda and arrowroot to wash the bottom beneath his piano, a behavior that annoyed his landlords because of the mess it induced.

Huggins stated he has caught quite a few folks within the act — often younger folks — and claimed that a lot of them had been carrying the signature purple NYU lanyard. He stated that he spoke to NYU Campus Security officers at Pless Corridor, which is simply throughout the road from the place he retains the piano, concerning the challenge, however no motion has been taken to forestall additional vandalism.

“Personally, what I get from each the police and from NYU safety is that they each don’t like me and don’t care about me they usually want I’d simply disappear,” Huggins stated. “I don’t actually get the impression from both one which they’ve any good emotions about me in anyway.”

NYU spokesperson John Beckman denied that the college had obtained any reviews of the piano being vandalized.

“We’re, in fact, sorry to study of the difficulties Mr. Huggins has been confronting. That stated, the Campus Security Division finds no information of any reviews of vandalism directed on the piano,” Beckman stated.

Huggins stated that attributable to elevated vandalism, publicity to the weather, and carelessness from a few of the folks he permits to play it, the piano’s situation has suffered, requiring him to spend time, power and cash getting it refurbished. He estimated that again when he used to retailer his piano at a Manhattan Mini Storage location, in addition to pay for assist shifting the piano and upkeep bills, he would spend about $3,000 to $4,000 per thirty days on the instrument — which he stated is now not sustainable.

Even now, with out paying for storage, maintenance stays costly by itself. Technicians within the space cost $150 per hour for tuning and upkeep. One-time prices, reminiscent of for changing a damaged piano bench or damaged strings, can rapidly add up when harm is so frequent. 

Donations from folks passing by the park, obtained by a Patreon account the place he posts unique content material, assist maintain Huggins. Whereas the Patreon doesn’t publicly show how a lot cash he receives, he says that he’s been making about $2,000 per thirty days after deducting transaction and platform charges.

Huggins stated that monetary insecurity and vandalism have deeply affected him, leaving him struggling to take care of his livelihood. Regardless of this, he stated he nonetheless loves the park neighborhood.

“I actually do love this place,” Huggins stated. “I like all of the folks in it, and I would like it to be wholesome, and I would like it to be pleased. It’s simply that getting previous this darkish place that we’re in now’s gonna take a while.”

Manada, the coed who witnessed the vandalism, stated that she was saddened by the general public’s mistreatment of the instrument. She added that she thinks college students and parkgoers must be anticipated to be on higher habits.

“Try to be respecting the realm that you simply dwell in,” Manada stated. “I really feel like, as residents and folks, now we have entry to that park on a regular basis, so it could make sense that we must be respecting the opposite folks round us, as a college that does maintain energy and does have a voice.”

Contact Caleb Pisoni at [email protected]