By Kendra Bryant
AFRO Intern
kbryant@afro.com
The Enoch Pratt Free Library has announced plans to begin construction on a new Park Heights branch this summer.
Photo Credit: (Enoch Pratt Free Library)
“The Park Heights Library will be the first new library branch built by the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in more than 15 years,” said Chad Helton, president and CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “This brand new construction will bring critical resources to the community that hasn’t had a dedicated library since 1991.”
The new branch will provide long-overdue free access to technology, books and educational support for residents of Park Heights, a historically Black neighborhood in West Baltimore.
“This project is about more than just a building, it’s about access and equity,” said Helton. “We believe libraries are cornerstones of strong communities, and this branch will help open doors for generations to come.”
The library is a part of the city’s Park Heights Main Street District Initiative, led by Mayor Brandon M. Scott. According to the mayor’s official website, “The program is a city-wide effort to revitalize neighborhood economies and support business and community development.”
The 18,000-square-foot building will include a children’s reading room, multi-purpose assembly space, books, comfortable study areas, public access computers, Wi-Fi and computer training.
The initiative will also include several new additions, including a park, pavilion and new residential units built by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP).
“With the new amenities to a growing neighborhood, we want to provide as much as we can so that folks can enjoy their neighborhood,” said Katherine Brower, design planner with BCRP’s Capital Division.
Brower has worked on the project since 2019. “For the past 15 years, we’ve been working to expand the area as a part of the neighborhood plan that was created by the Baltimore City Department of Planning. The idea has always been to build along Park Heights to Woodland Avenue, ” said Brower. “During this same time, the library was looking for a site to create a new branch.”
The library will be located at the corner of Park Heights and Woodland avenues, within walking distance of the CC Jackson Recreation Center and local schools.
“With the library so close to the schools, the kids can go to the library easily,” said Brower.
And she added, “As new residency is built, there will be more Black homeowners. And the fact that there are going to be residents right near the new additions is fantastic.”
Helton emphasized the library system’s commitment to community involvement as the project begins. “As the design and construction process moves forward, we’ll continue engaging residents to ensure the new branch reflects their needs and priorities,” he said.
Funding for the project includes the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the Pratt Library’s private fundraising efforts, and the Pimlico Local Impact Aid. Baltimore City Board of Estimates also approved approximately $18.6 million for the project.
“The Pratt Library raised $6 million in private donations, including the largest single gift in the Library’s history from philanthropists Rheda Becker and Bob Meyerhoff,” said Helton.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Aug. 27 at the site of the new location.
Great Job Kendra Bryant & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
