Forest Lake and the surrounding area is getting a new public library building. Washington County Library is asking for citizen input in the planning of the new library space.

The County Library will be a part of a multi-use complex that will also include a Washington County Service Center, a new Forest Lake community center, housing and more.

The location for the complex is west of Highway 61 and south of 202nd Street, adjacent to and south of the Forest Lake airport.
Area citizens are being asked to provide input about their new library at a public planning meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24 Hall D of Forest Lake American Legion Post 225, 355 Broadway Avenue West in Forest Lake.

Individuals with questions about the meeting are encouraged to call Forest Lake Branch Library at 651-464-4088.

Representatives from the library board and the Washington County Board will be invited to meet with citizens to discuss their vision of a new library building.

Attending the planning meeting to gather input will be Tony Rohr, the architect for the new building.

Rohr is an architect with Gould Evans Architects, Kansas City, Missouri. His firm has been retained by Ankeny Kell Architects, St. Paul, to design the new library building.

Gould Evans has a long history of designing nationally recognized libraries, including an addition to and renovation of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Missouri.

The Washington County Board chose Ankeny Kell to be the primary architects for the County complex.

ìWe donít want to make a guess at what residents want their new library to be like,î said Amy Worwa, Branch Manager for Forest Lake Branch Library.

ìAt the March 24 meeting, we are seeking input from residents about what programs and facility features they would like to see in the new building.î

Nancy Remakel, Washington County Library Board president, said ìThe whole point of having this meeting is to start from scratch.
ìBecause the library space is just in the planning stage, this is a great opportunity for area residents to have an impact on the kind of facility that serves the region.î

Library Director Pat Conley said ìThe Libraryís vision for the new library facility in Forest Lake is that it will serve the information and recreational needs of Forest Lake residents as well as residents in the entire surrounding area. We would like to have representatives from neighboring communities at this citizenís meeting, too.î

The current Forest Lake Branch Library is housed in a space provided by the City of Forest Lake at 220 North Lake.

Forest Lake Branch Library is one of the busiest libraries in Washington County, and has outgrown the space it occupies.

The new County Library and County Service Center are part of a larger, multi-use complex being developed in the City of Forest Lake.
The 500-acre development will include a community center, outdoor fields, neighborhood retail, possible senior housing and a large residential development.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605