SALISBURY — Close to 8:30 Tuesday night, the bells of the Bell Tower began ringing.

Margaret Kluttz, a former Salisbury mayor, said when those bells usher in the new year in 2020, it’s hoped the sounds also will signify that Bell Tower Green Inc. has reached its ultimate goal of raising $12 million for a downtown park.

The bells rang Tuesday night to kick off the final push toward raising an additional $2 million, but they especially celebrated the support of the project’s biggest benefactors, Fred and Alice Stanback.

“You are the reason those bells are ringing tonight,” Kluttz told the Stanbacks as a large crowd on South Jackson Street gave the Salisbury couple a standing ovation.

Bell Tower Green Inc. has raised $10 million for the proposed 3.66-acre park so far, and in anticipation of a Saturday groundbreaking, the nonprofit organization held a reception for donors.

The 100 block of South Jackson Street was closed, and a large tent went up on the street in front of the Wrenn House. The crowd also spilled into the yard and front porch of the historic Utzman-Chambers House.

The whole affair occurred in the shadow of the Bell Tower, a Salisbury landmark from which the new park takes its name.

Representatives of LandDesign of Charlotte were on hand with much more detailed drawings of various aspects of the park, expected to take 16 to 18 months to build.

The illustrations gave sweeping views of the Leisure Garden, Promenade Garden, trellises, Bell Tower Garden, the Water Wall and a playground. Those attending also had a chance to put on goggles and take a 360-degree virtual-reality tour of the proposed park.

It was like a high-tech Viewmaster.

One of the chief landscape designers for the park is Allison Merriman, who grew up in Rowan County and is a graduate of East Rowan High School. She promised the crowd the city will have a park that’s authentic, playful, green and welcoming to the entire community.

Paul Fisher, who along with Ed Norvell has co-chaired the fundraising committee, said this is a park that has been 249 years in the making.

The Colonial legislature gave permission that long ago for Salisbury to have “a town commons where you are sitting,” he told the donors. It never happened — until now.

“What was promised 249 years ago is going to become reality in 2020,” Fisher said.

Fisher noted that the fundraising campaign is 84 percent to its goal, and of the money pledged so far, 85 percent is in the bank.

“You folks pay well, and I want to thank you for that,” said Fisher, chairman emeritus of F&M Bank.

Kluttz, another key figure in making Bell Tower Green more than a dream, said Salisbury again is “proving to be an overachiever for a city its size.” The donors have been individuals, families, foundations, businesses and anonymous contributors, she said.

The organization’s rallying cry has become “Let’s Build a Park.” Leaders predicted a fully functioning park will be in place by the end of 2020.

Dyke Messinger, president of Bell Tower Green Inc., said the people who have supported the park believe in a vision for something greater than themselves.

“We all wanted to build a park that would bring us together, so let’s build a park,” Messinger said.

Saturday’s groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m., and the public is invited.

The site of the park is bounded by West Innes, South Jackson, South Church and West Fisher streets.

The master plan calls for the creation of significant green space, including the planting of more than 150 trees. Jason Walser, vice president for Bell Tower Green Inc., warned people that many of the existing trees will be coming down.

“We are saving a lot, but we’re losing a lot,” he said.

A signature feature of Bell Tower Green will be a large water wall in the middle of the park. It will be 15 feet high and 60 feet wide, showcased at night with LED lighting. It also will incorporate a splash pad in front for children.

In addition, the park will have multiple flower beds, a children’s play area, multipurpose hardscapes, a performance stage and a large, grassy “commons” area for community gatherings, active play and programmed activities such as movies, yoga and festivals.

Bell Tower Green Inc. will soon be forming programming and landscaping committees, Walser said.

Kepley Grading will start on the site Monday, tearing up asphalt from old parking lots.

David E. Looper and Co. of Hickory will be the general contractor.

As they have in the past, Bell Tower Green representatives are warning Salisburians there will be a lot of noise, dust, construction traffic, runoff and other nuisances during the construction.

For more information about Saturday’s groundbreaking or contributing to the project, go to www.belltowergreen.com or call 704-637-0511 or 704-649-5235.