Since 1961, when the library first opened, incoming and outgoing traffic took turns using its narrow driveway. When the Number One School next door was sold in July 2007, the Lawrence school board granted the library an easement of 12 feet on the west side of its property — enough room for this second driveway.
Work began on the driveway on Aug. 25 with 50 percent of it funded by a Public Library Construction grant from the state and the rest of the cost being funded through a state education grant and a capital improvement fund.
“This could not have gotten done without the work of our two state representatives Dean Skelos and Harvey Weisenberg, who have gone out of their way to help the library,” said Joan Lepelstat, co-president of the library’s Board of Trustees. “They helped us receive the library funding that was available, and have always had a general interest in libraries in New York state.”
Construction work was completed on Oct. 15, and parking has been available in the lot since.
