City of Dayton and nonprofit organization begin fundraising for free music venue

The city of Dayton has begun a new fundraising campaign to create an outdoor music center in conjunction with a national nonprofit organization.

The Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation and the city of Dayton are looking to raise five million dollars to rebuild the Dave Hall Plaza into a Levitt Pavilion, an outdoor venue that hosts 50 free concerts per year.

The Levitt Foundation website said that Levitt Pavilions are designed to foster community by creating “third spaces” or non-home, non-work places where the community gathers together.

The Levitt Pavilion could open as early as July 2017 if funded.

According to the Dayton Daily News, the venue is expected to showcase a variety of musical acts like jazz, folk, ethnic music and bluegrass.

The Levitt Foundation has already sponsored eight other pavilions across the nation in California, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.