Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library (CHPL) staff and trustees, elected officials and community members broke ground today (Thursday, May 25) on the new 25,000-plus-square-foot branch library. The new facility will be built from the ground up, including ample parking, and will serve Forest Park, Springdale and the surrounding communities. The new building will be one of the largest Library branches in the CHPL system, called a “Big Next Generation Library,” and is a part of the Library’s Facility Master Plan.
“This new Forest Park Branch is an excellent opportunity for the Library to expand our services to this community, who come for knowledge, learning, resources and a space for everyone to enjoy,” said Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Library Director. “Today’s groundbreaking marks the beginning, but we are excited to bring this new welcoming space to the community.”
The branch at 660 Northland Blvd. will replace the current Branch on Waycross Road. It is next to the post office, near several restaurants and businesses and along a public transportation route.
The community provided input for the new building about flexible spaces, a focus on youth services, increased access to technology, designated quiet and noisy areas and future adaptability.
SHP is the architect for the new branch, and Turner Construction will oversee construction. Work is expected to begin in full this summer, with completion planned for the summer 2024. The current Forest Park Branch on Waycross Road remains open until the new branch is completed. The city of Forest Park will take over the current Forest Park Branch once the new branch is available.
