Garden venue available for public rental at Cooper-Siegel Community Library
A tranquil green space is available for public rental in Fox Chapel.
The Fritz Mitnick Welcome Garden & Porch is located on the left side of the Cooper-Siegel Community Library.
Library officials are looking to spread “go green” awareness about the serene space, in the hopes that more folks take advantage of what they say is an affordable alternative to pricey venues.
The garden was established in 2011 and is maintained by the Fox Chapel Garden Club.
New library communications and marketing specialist Kaylie Glaze began on May 13 and noted the garden is a wonderful but sometimes overlooked library amenity.
Glaze is promoting the BYOB space and said she’s excited to join the Cooper-Siegel staff.
“I believe libraries are more than just books and signing on at this two locations (Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg) has made it very clear that they rise to the occasion when it comes to serving the community,” Glaze said.
Cooper-Siegel head of information services Kelley Beeson chose the garden for her nuptials last October. She looked at other venues but couldn’t pass up a garden-themed wedding at her workplace.
“It’s a perfect space and ideal for up to 75 people,” said Nadine Ostrowski, development manager.
“The reason we chose it was because we met at the Sewickley Public Library and we’re big readers and library lovers, so it made sense to get married at the library,” Beeson said.
The garden grounds rent at a rate of $80 per hour and $40 per hour for nonprofits.
The covered porch includes six rocking chairs, outdoor chairs, benches on the lawn and electric outlets.
The garden is sandwiched between the Fox Chapel Borough Building and offers privacy.
The library provides portable JBL speakers, a white board and markers and a Sharp Interactive Smartboard upon request.
Additional rental spaces are located inside the library and include the Harry W. McLaughlin Jr. Room with seating up to eight people, the Verne C. Koch Room with a capacity to seat up to 100, the Scott Family Reading Room that includes a gas fireplace, sofa, tables and chairs and three separate study rooms. The study rooms (The Traina, Wean Family and Hearst rooms) are free to tutors, Fox Chapel Area School District-related activities or groups and nonprofits.
Upcoming garden event
A new garden event is being planned for July 4.
A live reading of the Declaration of Independence will be hosted by library officials and the public is invited to picnic and celebrate the nation’s birthday and watch fireworks.
Normally, the library is closed for the holiday, but this year it will offer the garden space to the public for viewing the annual fireworks display seen from the Pittsburgh Field Club.
“It lends itself to this type of event. We’re still in the planning stages,” Ostrowski said.
For a complete list of hourly rates and to reserve a space, click here.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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