UPDATE: Fundraising campaign for Durham playground reaches goal

Supporters for Mt. Merrill, a planned playground at Durham Central Park, are just about $2,000 away from their $25,000 fundraising goal. The online Kickstarter campaign has three days left.

The nonprofit that manages Durham Central Park launched the campaign to raise $25,000 to build a new playground at the popular downtown park. The money would help build a handicap accessible climbing mound with two slides, a climbing net, big curving benches, amphitheater seating, a look-out area, boulder climbing and sculpture art.

The park hosts the city's farmers' market, food truck rodeos and other community events.

It would be named after Merrill Davis, whose family owns the neighborhood nursery and garden store, Stone Brothers & Byrd. Davis, who was one of the park's biggest supporters, died in a car accident in 2012.

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform. People who donate to Kickstarter projects get rewards in exchange for their pledges. Backers for the Mt. Merrill project get everything from a thank you and invitation to the unveiling event to prominent display of an individual or business' name or brand or tickets to Meals at the Market dinner.