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05/23/2017 12:00 AMAt public information sessions held May 11 and 13, the Chester Library Building Committee shared its plans for revitalizing the North Quarter Park and the possible new library to be built there. With a new movement in town to consider the Cummings & Good building for a new library (and a renewed call to keep the library where it is), the committee emphasized the benefits it said only the North Quarter Park site provide.
While the name of the committee centers the library as the main focus, the plan actually addresses multiple needs for the town: establishing a library that can grow with the needs of the town; creating a new community center space; and updating the North Quarter Park to encourage more use by the public.
“We’re creating a gathering space, with the goal of revitalizing the park and solving three issues with one solution,” said Committee Chair Dennis Tovey. “We had an outdated playscape, a library that needs updating, and we needed to replace the old community center. Using this town-owned property gives up land to build a library that is going to serve the community better.”
The project is estimated to cost $7.4 million. The town has received a $1 million state library grant, has private fundraisers planned, and is seeking other state grants for the North Quarter Park projects.
Pat Holloway is a member of the committee and has been a public librarian for 40 years. She referred to the project’s vision statement as central to how the committee approached developing the site: “Chester has the unique opportunity to develop a 22-acre site within easy walking distance of the center of town. North Quarter Park will be better utilized by people of all ages as a result of paved parking, an updated playground, and an all-purpose playing field, expanded walking/nature trails, and a 21st-century library/community center for the town.”
“We call it a library, but it’s really going to be a library and community center; there used to be a community center on that site,” said Holloway. “This has been part of the Chester Town Plan since 2009 and now we’re at the state of making that plan a reality.”
The process of developing the building itself began in 2014, when guidelines for required space eliminated the current building for state-funded upgrades—the current library is small, doesn’t have sufficient space for community events, and is not easily accessible to those with mobility issues.
“The state requires that you look ahead 20 years to design a building to grow into, considering estimated shelving, seats, and other community needs and services,” said Holloway. “We also designed it around the theory that the most expensive ongoing cost is staffing, so even though the new building will be four times larger than the current library, it is designed so that it could be opened with the current level of staffing. We’ve also used engineering to mitigate or keep other potential cost increases low, such as the potential for solar [energy generation] and efficient heating and cooling.”
The building would be designed to aesthetically fit in with the park, using a lot of glass with multiple access points to the outside. The community center portion will be a meeting room that can fit up to 70 to 80 people, and can be used not only for library events, but by the community for events, meetings, recitals, and special programs.
“Considering our demographics, we have a median age of 51, but we have no services for seniors,” said Holloway. “If I want to go for yoga or tai chi, I have to go to Old Saybrook, which is a long drive, especially in winter. Now there would be a space in town where pre-schoolers, seniors, teenagers, and everyone else can all use, a true space for community exchange. And you don’t need to stay in the library to enjoy the area.”
The development is also slated to include 40 to 50 paved parking spaces, and calls for the redevelopment of walking and hiking trails, including the old trolley line, so that there will be access to the park on a well-paved path instead of walking along the road.
According to Tovey, in addition to the parking lot and trail upgrades, improvements to North Quarter Park will include better drainage and creating an open field for community use, a new basketball court, and an updated playscape suitable for ages two through 13.
The committee has explored multiple financing options, including a 20-year general obligation bond at a three-percent interest rate. The presentation makes the case that the town can afford to finance the project due to low debt balance and healthy reserves.
For more information on the plan and the financial obligations, citizens are encouraged to reach out the First Selectman Lauren Gister at firstselectman@chesterct.org and to attend the next Library Building Committee meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, June 7 in the Town Hall Community Room at 7 p.m.