More Library Park Plans Revealed
By Monrovia Weekly
Published: Thursday, April 24th, 2008
The Monrovia City Council took the next steps last week in making the community’s dream of a new, state of the art library and redesigned park a reality by approving a new Library Park Master Plan as well as an interior design scheme that celebrates the area’s history and makes way for the next generation.
“We’re trying to balance progress with tradition,” Council member Joe Garcia explained as the Council reviewed landscape designs and compared color schemes and carpet samples during the regular Tuesday night meeting.
It was only 13 months ago that the voters in Monrovia overwhelmingly approved a bond measure that raised over $15.5 million to construct a new 28,000 square foot library on the site of the 50-year old building in Library Park on Myrtle Avenue. The city broke ground late last year and began demolition while the library collection and services were temporarily relocated to the Mary Wilcox Community Center.
While the architectural design of the new library was approved some time ago, the Council was able to put the new building in context by approving a Library Park Master Plan that would guide the design and construction of the grounds around the building.
The Council reviewed conceptual designs that include a new grand walkway leading from Myrtle Avenue to the library entrance, a 40 foot wide water feature, a new outdoor stage on the southeast corner of the park, and a veteran’s memorial area that will pay tribute to all the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and bring together all the various war memorials located throughout the city. The estimated total cost of the landscaping and grounds construction is $1.68 million.
The beloved bandshell located at the northwest corner of the park will stay right where it is, and the design does include space for a children’s play area and equipment.
The Council was also asked to sign-off on an interior design scheme recommended by the Library Board and Library Construction Committee after putting in a good deal of time researching and visiting new libraries in their area and getting up to speed on the latest products and materials in use.
As Board member Charlotte Schamadan shared everyone involved is trying to keep in mind the longevity of the building and the design as well as making it comfortable, attractive, and user-friendly.
“We want to make sure it is the best we can get for the money,” Schamadan said. She hopes that the end result will be something that the community enjoys as much as the Board and city staff enjoyed planning and creating.
The city currently estimates that the new library will be open to the public in early spring 2009. In the meantime, curious passersby can keep peaking over the fences and construction watchdogs can follow the buildings progress on the city’s construction webcam.
By Erica Blodgett
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