The City of Cedar Rapids is seeking final input on the draft plan for the new Westside Library Park, as concept planning for the new park nears completion.
A public open house will be held Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Time Check Hall at the City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW. The event will allow the public to review and comment on the final draft plan for the park, which was created in part by incorporating extensive community feedback received to date.
There will be no formal presentation during the open house, so individuals can attend any time and stay as long as they like. Staff will be available to discuss the project in detail and answer questions.
The park is part of the plan for a new west-side city library. In October 2022, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved allocating $6 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) award to the design and construction of a permanent new library.
The new $25 million facility, still in the planning phase, is set to be constructed on a 27-acre site recently acquired by the Cedar Rapids Library Foundation at the corner of 20th Avenue and Wiley Boulevard SW, just northwest of the existing Ladd Library.
Library officials are working with the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department on integrating a public park into the library’s site design, with a vision for “a park in a library and a library in a park.”
City officials say there are known community desires for additional park space and amenities, including water features, a dog park, a community garden, walking trails, and dedicated space for youth activities.
Find out more about the project at www.CityofCR.com/WestsideLibraryPark.
