Oskaloosa Library Breaks Ground On New Reading Garden
Oskaloosa Library Director Wanda Gardner and Youth Librarian Linda Fox take their turn at the ground breaking ceremony
Oskaloosa, Iowa – “It’s a 100 degrees. That means this is a warm gathering spot and that’s why we’re here.” says Oskaloosa Library Director Wanda Gardner on this unusually hot September afternoon.
With shovels in hand, Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt and Library Board President Michael L. Sytsma each took a ceremonial first dig into the lot just South of the library. Sytsma, also of Bates Funeral Home in Oskaloosa, was teased by Gardner, “You should have some experience digging into the ground.” Her joke was met with huge laughter from the nearly 100 people on hand.
Youth Librarian Linda Fox and Library Director Wanda Gardner were next to help break ground. The two have served as Project Chairwomen since shortly after Gardner’s arrival to the library nearly one year ago. According to Gardner, “It was Linda Fox who decided a garden would be wonderful. A place where children’s programming could be held during the summer. A place where people could sit and read during good weather. She told me she had this project the first week I arrived. And the next week the family of the late Betty Campbell came, asking for a project where they could put memorial funds that would benefit the community and would be a lasting tribute to their mother. This got started at that point in time. And we have wonderful people who have donated. This land, we get to thank Gridco LLC. We’ve been given this wonderful opportunity.”
Several youth then took part in helping to break ground. The Richardson children and the Miller children, who all had a part in the project, all grabbed shovels and showed they could overcome the hard, dry dirt that the ground in Southern Iowa has become during this summer.
One final ceremonial dig was to come. Dan Brice of db Landscaping, who was the landscape designer of the new ‘Reading Garden’. “His step-mother Nancy Simpson Brice had been director of the library and he has a real connection here.” said Gardner.
If your interested in helping the project, you can contact the Oskaloosa Public Library to find out more on purchasing a paving brick to be added to the garden. McCall Monument will be doing the engraving on those bricks.
“This is fabulous. I can’t even imagine how many people there are here.” Gardner says as she begins to guess that nearly 100 people had attended. “One hundred on a hundred degree day.” Gardner says with a smile.
Gardner says that soon you will see changes happening to the lot, as the city street department will bring in a layer of clay and then black dirt. After that, cement will be poured for the foundation of the gazebo near the end of September. And the gazebo should be constructed in October, with planting happening in the back area.
“My mom was a librarian and my dad devours books.” said Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa. He went on to say that she was the librarian at Lincoln Elementary. He also said, “I’m a big fan of libraries.”
“This is great.” said Senator Rielly. He went on to comment how things were looking so good for Oskaloosa and how this is just one more example of that.
Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt stated, “When I heard about the project, first of all, I was impressed by the donations that were made to create it. That someone had the thought ‘yes, I would like to give something back to the community’, in particular to the library. Wonderful, happy to have it. But then the dream to be able to create an area where people can sit out here, read a book and just enjoy the environment while enjoying the library as well. I was sure impressed by that as well. Jane and I have bought a couple of bricks to help the cause a little bit, but I hope everyone else will do the same. This is the sort of thing that will be around for quite a while. And I sure think by putting something permanent in, engraved bricks, it’s a good way for leaving a message for people to follow. Yes, this is what was done back in 2011.”
