The Akron-Summit County Public Library will
break ground on the replacement for Chamberlain Branch Library (renamed Firestone Park
Branch, effective upon reopening) Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. The entire community is
invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. The branch library will be built at 1486
Aster Ave., adjacent to Firestone Park Elementary School and near the community center. The
new 12,000-square foot structure will replace the existing Chamberlain Branch Library on
Archwood Ave. The new library will be built on a 1.37-acre parcel owned by the city and
the schools and will cost around $2,150,000. The new site will include 80 surface parking
spaces and 48 on-street parking spaces that will be jointly used by the Library and the
adjacent business district. GPD Associates created the architectural design for the new
library. Summit Construction is the construction manager. Completion is scheduled for
summer 2004. For more information on the new Firestone Park Branch Library, residents may
call the Library at 330-643-9090.
The new Firestone Park Branch Library will be paid for by taxpayer funds generated by
Issue #4, the Library’s building improvement plan issue approved by voters in
November of 1997. The bond issue will fund the expansion or replacement of 15 of the
system’s 17 branches, and the expansion of Main Library in downtown Akron.
###
