Silver Bay library launches fundraiser for landscaping phase of expansion

Silver Bay Public Library is asking residents to help finish the last visible piece of its expansion: the outdoor landscaping that will frame the renovated building and its new public space.

The library held a kickoff event on Saturday, April 25, to raise the remaining money for the landscaping work, which is phase 2 of the larger renovation and expansion project. The outdoor plan matters because it is not just about curb appeal. It will shape how people enter the building, use the patio area, and move around the site for day-to-day visits and programs.

The city of Silver Bay describes the broader renovation as a $1 million project funded almost entirely by grants. The work was designed to improve accessibility by moving the entrance closer to the parking lot and improving ADA access inside the building. It also includes a roof replacement, repairs to aging parts of the structure, small meeting rooms, and a large classroom.

Those upgrades have been years in the making. The project has been part of the library’s strategic plan since 1999, and early planning for the addition was already public by February 2023. At that point, the proposed work included a 750-square-foot addition, a new entry facing City Hall, two collaboration rooms, and a large outdoor patio off the current entrance to support outdoor programming. By April 2024, the projected cost had climbed to $1,217,306, and the city council approved a transfer from the city’s general fund to the library fund to close the shortfall. Nor-Son Construction received the building contract.

Construction began June 24, 2024, and the renovated library celebrated its grand opening on December 13, 2024. Library director Shannon Walz said more than 150 people attended the opening, and she said the library did not see a drop in daily visitors during construction. Staff kept programming going for all ages while more than 17,000 books were moved twice with help from volunteers, library staff and the city street department.

The landscaping push keeps that momentum going. The original exterior work was trimmed because of budget constraints, but the library worked with a local landscape designer to shape a new plan that fits the project’s current budget. Supporters at the April 25 event could sponsor specific plants or outdoor furniture, or donate to the general landscaping fund, giving Silver Bay one more chance to finish the civic space around its rebuilt library.