Movies in the Park program kicks off with The Jungle Book

The City of Taylor will kick off its "Movies in the Park" series by showing "The Jungle Book" on Friday, September 16. The movie is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. 

The outdoor show will be shown in the Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion, Heritage Park. Admission and parking is free. The Sheridan Center is located at 12111 Pardee Road. Those attending should enter through the Pardee Road entrance to Heritage Park and park in the large lot directly in front of the pavilion.

Mayor Rick Sollars announced recently that the City was in the process of receiving a $25,000 inflatable outdoor movie screen and sound system, thanks to an anonymous donor.

Thanks to this generous donation, the City of Taylor now has its own screen and system, and will be able to present a regular schedule of free movies for residents of the community. Mayor Sollars wanted to show at least one movie this year while the weather is still warm.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the City of Taylor," Mayor Sollars said. "Things like these help bring the community together. The movies will be free, and they will also create an opportunity for our non-profits in the City. Maybe those groups can do concessions and make a little money. People always see things like this and ask, 'Why don't we do this in Taylor?' We'll, this time we're lucky enough to be able to do it."

Next year, approximately May through October, the system will be scheduled throughout the community. With Heritage Park is an obvious location, the movie schedule will be moved to other locations like Northwest Pool in Northwest Park or the William Ford Senior Activities Center.

"Hopefully, we'll have a lot of fun with this," he said.

There are licensing fees that must be paid to show any movie. Mayor Sollars said he plans to put together a corporate sponsors program. Licensing fees range from approximately $200 to $400 per movie, an affordable sponsorship rate for even smaller businesses in the area.

The City is actively seeking sponsors and community groups that want to be involved in this ongoing program. If you business or organization is interested, contact Events Coordinator Chelsea Nunnally at cnunnally@ci.taylor.mi.us.