GC Library breaks ground on community garden, park, outdoor programming space
Last summer, the Garland County Library announced plans to build a community garden, park, and outdoor programming area in the vacant lot between the library’s upper parking lot and the RIX Professional Building. Plans have been drafted, bids have been accepted, and work began on the park at the end of November, putting the garden at a tentative opening date of spring 2023.
Butch Smith, design and facilities manager, joined the library in August of 2021 and immediately set to work on plans for sustainable expansion. Smith began by converting all the flower beds on campus to native varieties, known to self-seed and attract pollinators. “We’re hoping that this area will attract all the colorful wildlife that people love to see. It will be a great opportunity to build hands-on programming to show how important pollinator species are to all of us. It’ll also be a great place for community members to do their own programs and classes,” Smith said.
Ada-accessibility has been a priority during the garden planning process. The pathways will be fine chip-fill paths, much like what is used at Garvan Gardens. The garden plots, which will be available for patron ‘checkout’ and maintain, will be raised 32” high to maximize the accessibility of the beds for all potential gardeners. The park will also include Ada-regulation picnic tables and suitable parking available via Banks Street.
Watch the garden grow from the ground up on the library’s Youtube channel in the “Garden Drone Footage” playlist, www.youtube.com/garlandcolibrary. Community members can keep up with the progress there and by visiting www.gclibrary. com/grows to read the latest developments, including how to contribute to and support the Garland County Library.
Learn about all these things and more at http//www.gclibrary.com/news and visit www. gclibrary.com, call 501-623-4161, or visit the library in-person at 1427 Malvern Ave. in Hot Springs for more information about the library’s services and offerings.