Sutton Loop Park

"I was called to tune the old upright piano at the picnic table shelter in Sutton Loop Park. That piano was a work in progress. It was exposed to the elements in a brick shelter supported by brick columns on all four corners and open on all four sides. The piano was donated by a couple who live in a house right around the corner. I six hours a day, two days a week repairing the action and broken wood parts inside the piano. Weeks later I received a call from the lady who donated the piano. She said the city officials in charge of Sutton Loop Park wanted to know if the antique upright piano is worth further repairs or should they have it hauled away and replaced with a piano in better condition that someone wants to donate. I said haul the piano away and dispose of it. All my work is not enough to significantly improve its condition. It was made around 1933 and would not last long without a fleece lined canvas cover. There are also electric heating rods I can install inside the bottom. I'm not going to pay for the heating rods, but the next piano should be equipped with the piano heaters for cold weather. It would be a worthwhile investment for preserving the instrument and I have experience installing dehumidifier rods inside the bottom of upright pianos and under the soundboard of grands. They're designed to be easily fit for the size of the piano. The mounting brackets are adjustable as needed. They have an on/off switch built into the power cord so they don't stay on all the time."

"I have lived in Maplewood for several years now, and the park was always nice. It would get filled with people playing catch, dogs running around, yoga, and the occasional LARPing. Now there are about 5-6 homeless people that camp under the pavilion all day. They have all but moved in. I saw a man washing his clothes in the drinking fountain last Friday, and felt like we have officially turned the corner. I believe the food donation pantry is likely a big catalyst for this. I hope Maplewood figures this out sooner rather than later."

"Beautiful park! great place to host a event or just enjoy the nature and beautiful surroundings ! Buzzing love day was great . Thank you Buzzing love for all the tools and building supplies you donated for Bishop Coleman's Carpenter kids camp. Keep Buzzing love ! We all need to spread love around and make this world a better place."

"Sutton Loop Park is a lovely place to visit because it offers beaitiful landscaping, benches for sitting and a picnic shelter equipped with a piano. You can play frisbee with your dog while your kids ride their scooters along the paved loop. There is a sun powered charging station for your phones, tablets and the like with USB ports. The park offers free yoga events and art fairs. There is ample shopping near by. Great restaurants, old fashion pinball joint, specialty teas and strange donuts literally a door or two away. It's a great place to go with a friend or your puppy!"

"My medieval reenactment group meets there every Wednesday in good weather. The community is welcoming and curious. They view us as one more part of their eclectic community. We look forward to meeting with them in the coming weeks."