Rita Power grew up in Indiana taking piano lessons. The piano she learned to play on was born there, too, but somehow made it all the way to Newtown, when her mother moved here to be with Power. When the piano made it to Connecticut, Power’s grandchildren started taking piano lessons on it, too.

“Once upon a time, we got a new piano,” Power said, “and [this one has] been in the garage all these years.” The new piano went into the house, and the old one went into “storage,” of sorts. Power said, “Nobody wants a piano.”

For about 12 years, the piano collected dust in the back and finally, Power had enough of it. She dragged it out and called Parks & Recreation to see if they would want a free piano.

Amy Mangold, director of Parks & Rec, said she was not sure if the piano would be a good fit for the department, plus there were the practical issues of moving it.

“At first I was hesitant because many people will call and offer a piano,” Mangold said. “When Rita told me that she had a pop-up piano idea and a community idea and that she would prepare the piano, get it ready, deliver it, and have it tuned … I really love that idea, thank you for thinking of us.”

Power got an idea from a book, Pop-up Pianos by Camille Zamora and Monica Yunus, which displayed several photos of pianos painted by communities and left in shared spaces, inviting all those who pass by to play. Power told Mangold the idea, and Mangold went all in.

“I first thought maybe we could have a program where the piano would be here and we could invite children here and everyone could paint it together, but I just didn’t really know how that would work out, and then I talked to Jennifer, and thought about the Arts [Festival],” Mangold said.

Jennifer Cebry is a member of Newtown Arts Festival Commission, and was the next in line to get this project off the ground. Cebry explained that each year, Newtown Arts Festival Commission members try and have one interactive art piece. She mentioned the splatter art piece at Castle Hill Farm and the graffiti wall inside Newtown Teen Center, which is where the painted piano is now.

Cebry thought of artists in town. She and Mangold both agreed that Julia Provey was the person to go to, “Amy and I worked together and coordinated with Julia … Julia did all of the prep work.”

Power painted the piano white with her family before Provey got ahold of it, though, so the day of the festival, Provey created some line drawings for the children to paint.

“They really seemed to enjoy it,” Provey said of the kids who came to paint it. “Some kids are amazing.” She was referencing a small kid who free-handed the turtle on the bottom and most, if not all, of the other designs under the keys.

Mangold said that she loves Provey’s “colorful, whimsical” style. She was “so excited” when she heard that Provey would be managing the interactive piece. Now that the piano is in Newtown Teen Center, it is ready to be used by anyone. Mangold said that a local music teacher in town rented out the center for her piano recital, so students were able to use it for their performances. She hopes that this piano will open up opportunities for piano lessons in town.

Power said that she wishes her mom could see the piano now, since it has been 15 years since she passed. “I’m glad I held on,” Power said of the piano.

All four women — Mangold, Provey, Cebry, and Power — said the piano is the definition of community; furthermore, it is the definition of the Newtown community.

“That’s what the Newtown community is all about. Coming together, painting together, working together,” Cebry said.

Mangold said it is a great example of how people can connect their communities and separate entities to come together and “now you have a gift to give to the community and hopefully enrich your community by offering some unique and artistic experiences.”

Mangold invites community members who are interested in teaching piano lessons, or those who would like to book events at Newtown Teen Center, to reach out to Parks & Rec by calling 203-270-4340.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.