Longtime Lancaster residents David and Mary Anne Bainbridge have helped launch the campaign for a new Community Center with their gifts, including real estate. The value of their contributions to-date are estimated at $300,000. The Bainbridge Family’s support is designated for expansion in improvement of the Lancaster Public Library at its present site in Ryland Park.
“Our four children greatly benefitted from Lancaster’s fine schools and its public library,” David Bainbridge said. “We want to return something to this area and our hometown, which has been so good to us,” he explained. The Bainbridge children include Mark of Galena, Il, an anesthesiologist; Gina is in private business, while Scott and Michelle are both nurse anesthetists like their father. Mary Anne and David are especially proud of their twelve grandchildren, five of whom reside in Lancaster.
The Bainbridge’s have developed many commercial properties in Lancaster and across the country through their Bainbridge Land Development Company. They have supported a number of other community development projects and are members of St. Clement Parish in Lancaster.
David and Mary Anne said they feel strongly that the Community Center project is vital to the future of area children and the educational opportunities it will provide, pointing out that all their children were active users of the public library. “The library is such an important institution for everyone in this area. It’s time we all got together to invest in its future,” David added.
A campaign committee comprised of Lancaster area citizens hopes to raise $3 million to $4 million to help fund the Community Center project. The expanded and improved public library is the cornerstone of this plan, according to Lancaster City Administrator Scot Simpson. It will be constructed adjacent to the present library structure built in 1958. Time and heavy use have created numerous space and infrastructure deficiencies in the present library facilities.
When this essential first step is completed, other key components of the new Community Center will be implemented. These include: (1) A multi-purpose community room with kitchen facilities to accommodate a variety of gatherings, activities and programs. (2) A History Center – to be situated in space now occupied by the library – to relocate and incorporate the collections of the current Cunningham Museum, as well as artifacts owned by the City of Lancaster and local residents. (3) Space to highlight the talents of area artists, with rotating art displays, including better display space for the library’s permanent local artist’s collection. There is currently no space in the Lancaster area for artists to display their works. (4) A new performing arts venue – located just outside the Community Center in Ryland Park – with electric and sound connections and a safe, sturdy performance surface.
Many local and area groups have collaborated to determine the best and most economical approach to building a Community Center that would serve all Grant County area residents. These groups include the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Foundation, the Lancaster City Council, Lancaster Historical Society, Grant County Historical Society, Nelson Dewey Heritage Society, Lancaster Tourism Committee, The Jaycees, Lancaster Historic Preservation Commission, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, and the Lancaster Community Band.
Interest has been shown in designing the new Community Center with “green” features such as geothermal heating and cooling, water efficiency, renewable building materials, and indoor environmental quality. These features can greatly reduce operating costs and improve occupant health and well-being.
Persons wishing more information on – or interested in contributing to – the Community Center project are encouraged to contact Library Director Alan Tollefson at 608 723-7304 or e-mail atollefson@swls.org. Additional information is also available at the library’s website, www.swls.org/member.la.html.
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