Great things are happening in the South Park community! Join us to celebrate the reopening of The Seattle Public Library’s South Park Branch and the first anniversary of the release and implementation of the Duwamish Valley Action Plan—the city of Seattle’s environmental justice, equitable development and anti-displacement strategy for this area of the city. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 21 at the South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688. Brief remarks will be made by Seattle’s Chief Librarian Marcellus Turner, Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) Director Jessica Finn Coven, and The Seattle Public Library Foundation's Debbie McNeil. The event will include a resource fair with city and neighborhood partners, including the Library and OSE, the Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD), and more. Also featured will be free crafts and face painting, an appearance by the Bubbleman, a giant inflatable slide for all ages, a selfie booth, and a neighborhood taco truck, including free lunch for the first 100 people! About the Library branch refurbishment The 12-year-old branch was temporarily closed April 16, 2019 to allow for repainting and recarpeting. During the branch closure, the Library made additional improvements to support the changing ways patrons are using libraries and to make the branch a more enjoyable space to read, study and collaborate. "These improvements allowed us to more effectively serve a growing and diverse community, as well as support a wider variety of patron uses, services and local partnerships,” said Turner. “Our priority is to make sure our libraries meet the needs of the community.” To meet the needs of the South Park community, this refurbishment delivers flexible, collaborative spaces with additional electrical outlets and more mobile shelving and furniture. These newly designed spaces will allow students to work together, while providing the Library and the community an opportunity to creatively use these flexible spaces for a variety of programs. About the Duwamish Valley Action Plan In June 2018, the city of Seattle released the Duwamish Valley Action Plan, a city and community vision to promote collaboration and guide the city’s work and investments in the Duwamish Valley for years to come. The plan is part of the larger Duwamish Valley Program, a multi-departmental effort led by OSE and OPCD […]
