A $100,000 donation from the Richland Public Library Foundation was the push needed to get work started on the city library’s new outdoor space. 

Library and city officials will break ground on the The Lawn at 11 a.m. May 2 at the Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive. 

The space at the corner of Swift Boulevard and Northgate Drive will have tables and seating along with green space and a small open-air theater with artificial turf to serve patrons of all ages.  

The project has been in the works as far back as the library’s 2009 renovation. 

“This library is fortunate to have a variety of flexible space that gets a lot of use – meeting rooms, study rooms, program space, exhibit space, a huge collection, a café and a used bookstore,” library manager Christopher Nulph told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. “The one thing that has been missing is a space for outdoor activities.” 

The groundbreaking is for the first phase of the project; a later phase includes playground equipment.  

Individuals may contribute to the Richland Public Library Foundation to support the next phase of construction.