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May 14, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
The groundbreaking of the long-awaited Hunters Point library takes place Saturday and the Queens Library will host a free carnival and other activities to celebrate the occasion.
The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the groundbreaking at noon, will including activities for kids such as crafts, balloon art and face painting. Librarians and volunteers from the Friends of the Hunters Point Library will also host story-time readings. After the groundbreaking, at 1 p.m., carnival games with prizes will kick off.
Free food tastings from Long Island City’s Food Cellar and Urban Market will also be on offer.
Construction of the library, which will be located at Center Boulevard and 48th Avenue next to Gantry Plaza State Park, was expected to begin in 2013. However, it was delayed after the city was unable to find a contractor willing to build it for the $28.6 million that had been allocated.
The library’s design – created by prominent architect Steven Holl – was modified to cut costs, and the Queens Library and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer announced in February that sufficient funding had been achieved.
Residents who want to learn more about the new library are able to visit the Sculpture Center, where an exhibition chronicling the design process is on view May 19 to June 8.
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