CANANDAIGUA — The long-envisioned Reading Garden at Wood Library soon will be open to visitors of all ages.
For Wood Library Executive Director Jenny Goodemote, seeing how this idea emerge from a plan during the pandemic years to what it is now is amazing.
“I’ve been telling people right along that it feels like that garden’s always been there because it fits so perfectly in that space,” Goodemote said. “You just walk through it and it just feels like it was always meant to be there.”
Tucked in on the north side of the library at 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua, this outdoor space can be entered from the library itself, the street or the parking lot.
To see for yourself, an open house is planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 and 1 to 4 p.m. July 27. Here’s what visitors can expect.
What’s in the Reading Garden at Wood Library?
The garden offers a peaceful retreat designed for relaxation, reflection and discovery, whether curling up with a good book, gathering with friends, or simply enjoying the fresh air, Goodemote said.
Award-winning architect and Farmington resident Ted Liddell designed the 2,000-square-foot oasis to echo the historic architecture of the library building. Highlights include a columned entrance, a welcoming pergola, a reading theater, a demonstration rain garden to inspire home gardeners, a Native American garden, shade gardens and pollinator gardens.
Free WiFi makes it easy to stay connected, and the smooth pathways are accessible to strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.
“We hope people will think of the Reading Garden as an outdoor living room,” Goodemote said. “It’s a comfortable space to spend time alone or with friends, read, or simply enjoy nature on a beautiful day.”
The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association and the Wood Library share a commitment to promoting practical, sustainable solutions for the community, according to Emily DeBolt, executive director of the Watershed Association.
Partnering with the library on a rain garden is one example.
“It will show how rain gardens help capture and filter stormwater — protecting our lake — and look great doing it,” DeBolt said. “This demonstration garden will provide an easily accessible spot for water-quality education programs for all ages along with educational signage about how rain gardens work and how people can incorporate them on their own properties.”
What will the Reading Garden at Wood Library be used for?
The Reading Garden is designed to inspire learning and creativity.
The space can be used as as an outdoor classroom for small group study and exploration, Goodemote said.
“Every plant and nook in the garden has its own story,” Goodemote said. “The garden lends itself to all kinds of engaging programs. We look forward to partnering with local organizations to offer workshops, storytimes, and more.”
When can the Reading Garden at Wood Library be used?
The garden will be open to the public seven days a week.
The project was made possible thanks to the generosity of hundreds of community members and organizations, along with grants from New York state and private foundations. Collier’s Engineering and Design managed the project, and construction was completed by RM Landscape.
Count Maggie and Neil Atkins among those eager to make use of this versatile space themselves and to see members of the community enjoy it.
“We believe that the library and our greater community will relish this outdoor space for gathering, learning and just enjoying a beautiful area outside of our wonderful library,” Maggie Atkins said.
More about Wood Library
Wood Library is a full-service community library serving everyone in the Canandaigua City School District. It provides a safe and welcoming place to spark imagination, satisfy curiosity, and connect with neighbors.
Learn more at woodlibrary.org.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Reading Garden at Canandaigua library almost ready to open. Take a sneak peek
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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