A new library is coming to the East Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield.
The Springfield Library Foundation hosted the “Imagine Your New Library” event Saturday at the site of the new library near 190 Surrey Road.
Families, library staff and community members gathered for a preview of Springfield’s new addition.
The facility is being built thanks to a $4.9M state grant, a $2M Capital Campaign from the Library Foundation and additional community funding.
The 17,000 sq foot building is expected to serve as a future model for other modern Massachusetts libraries.
“In addition to the normal things of a library, going and studying and reading and having quiet time, it’ll also be a place for the community to come together,” said Tim Allen, Springfield city councilor. “Meeting rooms and children’s rooms, teen rooms, etc. It’s going to be great.”
Forest Park residents have advocated for a new library for over 50 years.
The new East Forest Park Branch Library is set to open in a little over a year
