Officials with the City of Cedar Park have officially broken ground on the new Cedar Park Public Library. Situated in the Bell District, it will provide the community with a unique indoor-outdoor experience, and act as an anchor to the mixed-use development, the city said.
The Cedar Park Public Library is designed with outdoor reading porches, program spaces and a nature play space.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said, “Life here in Cedar Park is inherently indoor-outdoor and of course our seasons support that. I think it’s just part of our culture and what makes this region so beloved within Texas and nationwide. I love how our design embraces that fact.”
On the inside, the new Library will be 47,000 square feet. It will feature several unique areas, including a kids area with interactive learning stations, as well as a youth activity room, a space just for teens, two “makerspaces” (places where guests can make all kinds of things from messy arts and crafts to high-tech 3D prints and laser cut-outs) and several community meeting and gathering spaces.
By being a part of the walkable Bell District development, the city said it will enable guests to make a day out of their trip to the new Library, which is surrounded by dozens of large heritage trees and more than 10 acres of park space with a trail.
“Anchoring the new Bell District is such an extraordinary opportunity for the Library,” Cedar Park Public Library Director Julia Mitschke said. “The current Library serves over 300,000 visitors per year with exceptional service and a wide range of programming for all ages. But in this new dynamic, walkable mixed-use development we are going to be able to reach even more of the community, including community members who might not think to visit the Library, but are coming to the Bell District to shop, eat or visit the park.”
Mayor Penniman-Morin added, “I think it says a lot that the crown jewel of the heart of our city will be this library and I think what you tasked Lake│Flato on was designing a building that reflects the beating heart of our city – as a place where we will learn and envision brighter futures together. This is a proud and exciting day for all of us.”
The new Cedar Park Public Library will be under construction through all of 2023 and much of 2024. It’s anticipated to open towards the end of 2024.
