Mt. Airy USA launches crowdsourcing effort to fund Lovett Park additions

Mt. Airy USA is looking to raise $6,000 over the next three weeks via online crowdsourcing platform Indiegogo. The campaign falls just before the start of the paired Lovett Park summer series “Moonlight Movies in Mt. Airy” and “Dining Under the Stars.” Funds will go toward purchasing permanent furniture for the green space.

The community group, in cooperation with the Free Library of Philadelphia, is in the midst of revitalizing Lovett Park, located adjacent to Lovett Library.

The efforts are aimed at increasing foot traffic throughout the year and utilizing the space to its full potential, according to the group. Installing durable furniture, versus the temporary furniture normally purchased for summer events is one way to do that, according to Elizabeth Moselle, director of commercial revitalization and the business association of Mt. Airy at Mt. Airy USA.

“Why throw money away on more temporary furnishings? Why not just go ahead and buy some of the permanent furnishings,” said Moselle.

The crowdsourcing effort will likely be the first of many such campaigns to get the community involved in the Lovett Park project, according to the group. 

Valley Green Bank has agreed to contribute to the project as well. 

“We hope that the community can help us fill in the rest,” said Anuj Gupta, executive director of Mt. Airy USA.

Rewards for contributing include Go Mt. Airy shirts and cups or a family picnic with a reserved table at Dining Under the Stars/Moonlight Movies. 

This year’s summer series

This summer marks the second season that Mt. Airy USA will be bringing the dining and movie-watching duo series to Lovett Park. The series is set to kick off on June 21 and will feature a rotation of food trucks and carts as well as a set of movies voted on by the community earlier in the spring. 

Here’s this year’s lineup:

Friday, June 21: Life of Pi

Friday, June 28: Field of Dreams

Friday, July 5: Akeelah and the Bee

Friday, July 12: Grease

Friday, July 19: Brave

Wednesday, July 24th- 8:15 p.m.: Phillies v. Cardinals

Friday, July 26: Casablanca

Friday, August 2: Mary Poppins

Friday, August 9: Hugo

Friday, August 16: The NeverEnding Story

Screenings begin at 8:30 p.m. with the exception of the Phillies’ game on July 24.

Visit the project’s Indiegogo page to contribute to the campaign.