Long-awaited Eldredge Library Project Begins; Parking Lot Closed Until Memorial Day

CHATHAM – After years of planning, work to improve safety and accessibility at the Eldredge Public Library began this week.

The first phase of the project focuses on the area off Library Lane, behind the historic library building. The parking lot closed Monday to allow the reconfiguration of the lot and the upgrading of the surrounding area with new sidewalks.

 Library officials expect the parking lot to reopen in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

 The parking lot book drop will be relocated to the library’s side entrance during construction. Both the front and side entrances to the building will remain open through this first phase of the project; no work is being done on the 1896 library building itself. 

 “We know this will be an inconvenience for people and we appreciate their patience as this long-awaited project gets underway,” said Library Director Amy Andreasson. 

 The parking lot is the first of the project’s two phases. The second phase involves new landscaping of the library’s front lawn area, replacing the existing path that leads from the sidewalk to the building with a new pathway that is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act standards. A new accessible pathway that leads to the side entrance will also be added. The relandscaped front lawn will be more level and include an outdoor classroom area. The work will be coordinated with the reconstruction of the Main Street sidewalk, a new crosswalk and repaving of Library Lane.

 Initially the sidewalk and front lawn work were scheduled for the first phase of the project, according to Public Works Director Rob Faley. However, once the plans were finalized, officials realized there was not enough lead time to allow new sidewalks to be ready for the summer, so it was decided to do the parking lot work first, with the sidewalk and landscaping phase moved to the fall, beginning right after Labor Day.

 “It was always meant to occur in two phases, so it was easy to shift gears based on the calendar,” Faley said in an email.

 Work in the parking lot involves upgrading drainage and reconfiguring spaces, as well as establishing a new area for the book drop, according to Andreasson. The new location should be more accessible to patrons, and a new book drop is on order courtesy of the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library but won’t arrive until late June, she added.

 Eastward Companies was the low bidder on the project $1,045,831, according to Faley.

 Library patrons have the opportunity to drop off items or pick up materials that are on hold at the town offices Friday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m., when a staff member will be present. To do so, patrons must contact the library by Thursday at 6:30 p.m. so that the staff can ensure that the desired material is on hand.