Lovett Park, at long last, is ready for its close-up.

Lovett Memorial Library reopened to much fanfare in December, and come Saturday, April 28, its adjoining one-acre park space will make its formal debut at the Go Mt. Airy Garden Party. Tickets are on sale now at mtairyusa.org.

The Garden Party, a new twist on Mt. Airy USA’s biggest annual fundraiser, feels especially important to us this year, as we’ll host it in a space we’ve worked hard to make into a “civic common.”

At the corner of Germantown Avenue and Sedgwick Street, Lovett Park sits geographically and symbolically in the heart of Mt. Airy. Its intentionally-still-evolving design currently features five core areas: the Great Lawn, the Germantown Plaza, the Sedgwick Plaza, the Reading Circle and the one with the most potential to serve as centerpiece, the Porch.

As the transition between the library’s building and its green space, the Porch can be a stage, a gathering place, a quiet spot to read a book, even a porch. At the Garden Party, it’ll be Herb Scott Catering’s kitchen, as Herb and his crew have full control over the food options. In addition to a full spread of food, beer and wine, we’ll have a signature cocktail.

As in years past, we’ll be celebrating our Go Mt. Airy Community Champions. This year, those include:

Attorney, gardener and all-around motivating personality Yvonne Haskins.

Northwest Victim Services’ Executive Director Melany Nelson.

Real estate developer Ken Weinstein, the man behind the Trolley Car Diner, Mt. Airy Business Improvement District, the Jumpstart program and renovations of many historic buildings up and down the Avenue.

We’ll also recognize Jordan Parisse-Ferrarini and Trades for a Difference for their Chew Avenue Project, which transformed a nuisance bar into a rehabilitated workspace that will engage local youth in the building trades.

Northwest-based PWPvideo will again produce the Community Champion videos that we’ll premiere. Mt. Airy’s own DJ Mighty Flipside will fill the air with dance-y grooves that should fill the Great Lawn with dancing feet.

While we expect the evening to be a blast, the Go Mt. Airy Garden Party is just the beginning. Our series of events, largely informed by public input, will kick off in earnest following the party and will include Music Mondays, Wellness Wednesdays, Family Fridays and Moonlight Movies, as well as non-alliterating one-offs like the Mt. Airy Holistic Health Fair (Saturday, June 2), State Rep. Chris Rabb’s summer kickoff for kids (Saturday, June 16) and other great events (think “beer garden”) to be announced.

Tickets to the Garden Party help support Mt. Airy USA’s year-round programs to help people navigate home ownership, promote literacy and find resources for local public schools, strengthen and sustain local businesses and bring the community together. Tickets are priced for singles, doubles, young friends (35 and under) and guest hosts. Visit mtairyusa.org/gmagp for info.

We’ll see you at the Garden Party!