TADL to Transform Front Lawn With Gardens, Reading Spaces, Events & More

The Traverse Area District Library (TADL) main branch on Woodmere Avenue circulates over 1 million items to more than 400,000 visitors annually. But while the building is often bustling with activity, Library Director Michele Howard calls the site’s outdoor space “a long-forgotten book, left on the shelf to gather dust.” Now – thanks to a successful community fundraising campaign and matching state grant – TADL is set to transform its front lawn in 2023, creating reading areas, garden spaces, and amenities to accommodate a wide range of community and library events.

Planted over 24 years ago, the sprawling front lawn along Woodmere Avenue has become an “overgrown mess,” according to Howard. Lacking amenities that might invite visitors to linger – like benches, shade, and comfortable places to read or rest – the lawn is typically bypassed by patrons who head straight into the building. But that started to change during the pandemic, when TADL began relocating events outdoors to safely accommodate visitors.

“Many people weren’t comfortable being in the building, so we moved a lot of our programming outside,” says Howard. “People loved it. They wanted to be outside.” When TADL board members began working on a new strategic plan in 2021 and surveyed patrons about what they loved most about Traverse City, the outdoors rose to the top of the list. Respondents said they loved the library, “but would love to see the library more outside,” says Howard. TADL also had a recognition problem: The lack of a front yard sign for the main branch meant many passersby – and residents in adjacent neighborhoods like Traverse Heights – didn’t even realize the building was a library.

“Some people thought we were a county building,” Howard chuckles. “We knew we needed a sign. It’s been on the wish list for almost 20 years.” As TADL prepared to bite the bullet and dip into its coffers to cover the $30,000 project, Howard learned from Traverse City Mayor Pro Tem Amy Shamroe about a grant opportunity through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The MEDC's Public Spaces Community Places is a grant match program that utilizes donation-based crowdfunding to revitalize or create public spaces. If TADL could raise $25,000 from the community, MEDC would provide a $25,000 match – generating enough funds to not only cover the sign project but revitalize the rest of the front lawn.

While funding can often be a challenge for public libraries, this particular story has a happy ending. After launching the Patronicity campaign earlier this month for the new “Lifelong Learning Lawn,” patrons quickly stepped up to support the cause. TADL has already raised $25,980 – surpassing its $25,000 target – from 126 patrons ahead of its December 31 deadline. The campaign means the $25,000 MEDC match is secured, and any additional donations contributed by the community will help further enhance lawn improvements.

In addition to the 8’x10’ new TADL library sign (pictured, top right rendering) set to be installed this winter, improvements will include new benches, garden features, reading spaces, activity areas, electricity, and water. Electricity will power not only the new sign but numerous events, says Howard, from cooking events like the popular Chili Cookoff to community concerts, listening parties, live theater, speaker series, and dances. Shade sails will provide shaded areas for reading in the summer (they can be removed in the winter), while a new sensory garden will be accessible to all ages and abilities. TADL also plans to install an art pebble path that allows individuals to decorate and contribute stones to the path, with accompanying flowers and landscaping. “We want it to be a pleasant place for the community to use, where a family can come in and get their books and sit out on the lawn and read and have lunch,” says Howard.

The enhanced space will not only better accommodate existing events – like TADL's Tiny Fest and Summer Clubhouse – but also welcome new ones, from expanded outdoor storytelling opportunities to fitness classes. Environmental improvements are also on deck for the lawn. TADL is planning to install a rain garden near Woodmere Avenue to capture stormwater runoff from the building and paved areas, with educational signage explaining how the garden works. Howard hopes to work with a range of community partners on implementing the front lawn improvements, such as working with SEEDS on the rain garden.

Funding is typically released by the MEDC within 45 days following a successful fundraising campaign. In the meantime, Howard says staff and board members are working to finalize design plans with the goal of beginning work in the spring. The timing is especially auspicious given the opening of the newly completed Boardman Lake Trail loop this summer. Howard believes the library – which has already seen increased traffic from people parking and using the trail – will be a natural stopping point for trail users, especially once new drinking fountains, shaded areas, and events are offered on the front lawn. “Hopefully it’ll make people want to use the library more, too,” she says. “We’re often constrained by finances, but getting this matching grant helped us free up our ideas and dream bigger.”