In struggling city, a piano brings calm, a player at a time

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CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) β€” A piano in the park is providing therapy for some people in Camden, one of the nation’s most impoverished cities.

The instrument is part of a pop-up park at Roosevelt Plaza in front of City Hall. It’s been there since last fall and is weather-worn despite a tin roof built over it.

One man who played there recently is Bruce Chorzelewski, a 51-year-old former supermarket manager who has been living on the streets.

He says playing relaxes him, even though his life has been turbulent.

He used to play guitar in a band, but does not own his own instrument these days.