Pavillion, Story Walk and Native Plant Garden Coming to Scarsdale Library

Imagine this…. by next summer you could be relaxing in inviting chairs by library pond, spending time with friends in an outdoor pavilion or enjoying a story walk on the grounds of the Scarsdale Library.

Yes, the long awaited landscaping plan for the library finally has a timeline. The next phase of work will begin this June and is targeted to be completed by next spring.

At a meeting at Village Hall on May 19, Elizabeth Bermel reviewed the plans with members of the Village Board, the Village Manager, Capitol Projects Manager Paul Zaicek, Library Board President Diksha Mudbhart, Co-chair of the landscape project committee Terri Singer and others.

The Library Pavillion

Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg explained that the plans were five years in the making. In the interim a large stormwater remediation project took place along Olmstead Road, the pond was totally re-done and a sidewalk was installed on Olmstead Road. With that work complete and $2.2 million in private funds raised, the work can now be done.

The plans, designed by Slade Architecture, are exciting. Most notable will be the addition of an outdoor pavilion with a solid roof and open sides that includes fans, heaters, lighting, electrical outlets and even an AV screen. The pavilion permits seating for 40 people and can be used for meetings, lectures and gatherings.

Surrounding the pavilion will be native plants, shrubs and trees including magnolias, blue spruce, inkberry, junipers, salvia, coneflower, ornamental grasses and more.

The Library Story Walk

Another fun feature is a story walk which is a series of LED frames posted along a path where children’s or illustrated books can be posted – page by page. This allows users to walk along the path and read a book from page to page. The story walk, extending along the westside of the parking lot will also including native plants, trees and shrubs and three seating areas.

Bermel reassured everyone that the plans will not cause a loss in parking which will remain at 114 spaces.

A groundbreaking for the new project will be held in late June and the public will be invited to celebrate the fruition of long-range plans to provide a public garden in Scarsdale.

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