Help Restore a Community Landmark to Downtown Montclair!

Before installing the Church Street Community Piano, I did what I believed was the responsible thing to do. I went to Montclair Township and met with the Code Enforcement Department to ask whether I could place a community piano on Church Street. After discussing the project, I was told I could move forward.

The piano was then installed as part of Downtown Montclair's Community Piano and Public Art Initiative, with the simple goal to bring people together through music, art, and community.

Since then, thousands of residents and visitors have either stopped to play the piano, listen to the music, take photos, or support the initiative all across social media. Children have played, adults have played, and the piano became a unique part of the Downtown Montclair experience.

Then, without any notice, it was gone.

No one called me.

No one emailed me.

No one informed me that there were concerns or that the Township intended to remove the piano.

I arrived expecting to uncover it, only to find it missing. Believing it had been stolen, I contacted the police. I then went to the Township looking for answers, where I learned that the piano had been removed.

I was informed that the reason for the removal was that complaints had reportedly been made regarding the piano's location and people playing it during the daytime.

I was also told that my other two community pianos in Montclair are being allowed to remain because no complaints have been received about those locations.

If that is the standard being used, then I believe the community deserves an opportunity to speak as well.

I respect that the Township has a responsibility to respond to concerns. However, this situation raises several questions that deserve clear answers:

How many complaints were actually received?
When were those complaints made?
Were they from multiple individuals or repeated complaints from the same person?
What specifically were the complaints about?
Why wasn't I emailed before the piano was removed so we could work together on a solution?
Was relocating the piano ever considered before removing it?
Is the removal truly based on complaints alone, or were there other reasons behind this decision?

These are fair questions that deserve transparent answers.

The Church Street Community Piano belongs to the community that embraced it.

If a handful of complaints were enough to remove it, then the thousands of people who have enjoyed it deserve the opportunity to express their support for bringing it back.

This petition is not about attacking anyone or assigning blame. It is about asking for transparency, fairness, communication, and community input before a beloved public art installation is permanently removed.

If there are additional reasons for the Township's decision beyond the reported complaints, I respectfully ask that those reasons be shared publicly so the community can fully understand how this decision was made.

We Respectfully Ask the Township of Montclair To:
Return the Church Street Community Piano to Church Street.
Share the facts surrounding its removal, including the complaint process and any additional reasons that contributed to the decision.
Create a transparent process for addressing concerns about future community art installations before removal becomes the first solution.

The Church Street Community Piano has never just been a piano. It is a symbol of community, creativity, public art, and the belief that music has the power to bring people together.

If you believe this piano deserves another chance, please sign this petition and help bring the music back to Church Street.