Standing in the booth at the Hager Parking Lot, Alex Valentine came back from break Wednesday to find himself in the presence a piano.

The piano was one of the first of 20 to appear in downtown Lancaster as part of the Keys for the City initiative. All of them are slated to be in place in time for this week's Music Friday, the city's monthly evening of musical events.

Valentine said a few people paused, played a few notes and continued on their way.

"I'm kind of waiting for someone to stop and draw attention to their piano skills," said Valentine, who does not play.

Within minutes, 10-year-old Carter Standish ran up to the old upright, painted green and emblazoned with scenes of Lancaster County farm life. Carter quickly tickled a few ivories as his mother, Jeanine, walked up.

Jeanine Standish said she has seen decorated crabs in Baltimore and other theme decorations in other cities, "but this is interactive."

The intent is to make music — in this case musical instruments — accessible to passersby around the clock, said John Gerdy, president of Music For Everyone. Whether people stop to strike a few keys or play a classical concert, Gerdy said he hopes the pianos will inspire people in the city.

Music For Everyone, a nonprofit organization that raises money for music programs in schools, is working with the Society of Design, the city and the city Mayor's Office of Special Events to collect, decorate and place the pianos along the city streets. Corporate sponsors have contributed to the decoration and support of the program.

The pianos are slated to remain in place until Sept. 17.

"It's the merging of nonprofit groups, the city and corporations to hopefully bring something that is fun and cool and dynamic to the city," Gerdy said.

Each piano is unique. In some cases, pianos were decorated by corporate sponsors. Most, however, were decorated by members of the Society of Design. The organization, which includes advertising, art, fashion and graphics designers, architects, illustrators and artists, held a competition to decorate the pianos.

Finishing touches were still being made on the pianos this week. "The Infantree" piano, along North Prince Street at the Prince Street Parking Garage, still had wet turquoise paint Wednesday afternoon.

That piano is under the cover of the curving ramp of the garage. Other locations, such as the one next to the Hager Parking Lot, are exposed to the elements.

"Hopefully in inclement weather, people will cover them up for us," Gerdy said. Plastic covers will be affixed to the pianos.

Eight of the piano locations are in city-owned sites, such as parks. The remaining dozen locations are on sites owned by businesses or organizations.

Gerdy said that when they went to business owners, most were very positive about the project.

"People, when they understood what the project was about, they said: 'Sure, we'd love to have one,' " Gerdy said.

"We hope that carries over to when the pianos get on the street and people adopt them and make them their own and care for them," he said.

Along with covering them in the rain, Gerdy is hopeful people will respect the pianos as both art pieces and musical instruments.

The piano are screwed down to the pavement and sealed shut, so only the cover over the keys may be opened.

The old, donated uprights are heavy, Jeanine Standish said.

"They deserve them if they can get them," she said of anyone making off with one. But she was relieved to learn they are fastened down. At least we won't be seeing them rolling down the street, she said.

There will be an opening concert in Binns Park from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. The bands Go Particle, Big Red and Mama Tried are slated to perform.

There also will be a beer and wine garden in the park and other activities. Admission is free and activities are open to the public.

Gerdy said host musicians will be stationed at each piano Friday. They will play the pianos, but also will encourage passersby to stop and play.

Most pianos are located in the downtown section of the city, but they range as far north as Clipper Magazine Stadium and as far east as Reservoir Park. A map of locations is available at keysforthecity.com.

Gerdy said he was unsuccessful in getting locations in the southern part of the city. Some people were concerned about legal liability, he said.

"We did the best we could to spread them out, and we'll go from there," he said.

He said his group feels no need to control the initiative. He encouraged anyone who wants to decorate an old upright piano to put it out in a common area for anyone to play.

"Our mission is to cultivate the power of music," Gerdy said. "This is our gift to the city, to bring people together over music and building community."

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bharris@lnpnews.com