The parking lot at the Oconto Falls Library will be reconstructed this fall, adding eight to 10 additional parking spaces and providing better access for handicapped patrons.
The $10,000 project will be funded by a donation from ST Paper, which contributed $20,000 to the library. The remainder of the donation will be set aside for a new roof for the library, 251 N. Main St., Oconto Falls.
“These are both expenses that the library board and the city knew would be coming but had no idea on how to pay for them,” library director Joan Denis said.
The Oconto Falls Street Department will prep the area for the project, and the Oconto County Highway Department will pave the lot. The City Council on Aug. 13 unanimously approved the county’s bid of $10,873. The work is scheduled to be completed in September and will force the library to close temporarily.
“For safety reasons, I see the library closed for three business days, at a minimum,” City Administrator Vicki Roberts said.
To accommodate a larger lot, the library’s front yard will lose some green space and several trees. According to Street Superintendent Terry Magnin, the trade-off is worth it.
“(Drivers) are going to have so much more turning space, because everything is so tight right now. There’s probably only 14 feet between the parking lanes right now, so it’s hard for somebody to back out, especially with longer vehicles,” he said.
Denis said although still considered the “new” library, the current building is 22 years old and does not meet all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The redesigned lot will provide two handicapped parking spaces, both larger than the single space the library has now.
According to Denis, the library board has updated the building to comply with ADA standards as money comes available. When ST Paper donated funds in January 2011, the library installed automatic door openers and handicapped faucets in the bathrooms. It also used the funds to improve programming.
“Being up to code is not just for the handicapped,” Denis said. “It helps the moms with strollers, kids in the bathrooms and people carrying large amounts of items through the doors.”
She said the library is thankful for the support of ST Paper and will continue to improve its facility.
“Next, we tackle the roof and some smaller renovations in the library,” she said.
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