Martha Cooper, vice president
of the Midtown Neighborhood Association, said she's worried that some
Community Development Block Grant money could be lost if the county and city take much
longer to reach an agreement.
"We have this inherent disagreement
between the city and county on a lot of things.
"They don't trust each other and we don't trust them," said Cooper.
"New library at a standstill" Arizona Daily Star, May 30, 2002 Read More
"We want to build the best children's
library in the city," said Martha
Cooper,
vice president of the neighborhood association.
She said neighbors decided focusing on children would be a good idea because the local
elementary school, John B. Wright, has a booming enrollment of more than 600 children,
most of whom live in the neighborhood.
Cooper said a steering committee made up of neighbors, city staff, area students and local
business people is hammering out what services the center will offer.
"New community library" Arizona Daily Star, March 1, 2001
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More
"Thanks to all of you for your get-well
wishes which were conveyed to me. I know your good thoughts are helping me recover. I also
want to commend all of you for your enthusiastic assistance in our various activities. YOU
are what makes the association and us more and more of you become involved, our
association can only grow stronger. Whatever your talent, we NEED it and you, so volunteer
in any area which interests you."
Midtown Monthly
Newsletter, March 1996 Read
More
About
five years ago, the outline of a dream was formed in the Midtown Neighborhood Association
(bounded by Swan, Speedway, Alvernon and Grant) through the encouragement of then-Council
member Molly McKasson. Molly was concerned
about the numbers of high-risk factors in the area as determined by an evaluation of the
1990 census. Her response was to encourage
the establishment of the neighborhood association to address some of these concerns.
Subsequently, $2 million dollars was included in a Pima County Bond election to be
used for the building of a library/learning center in the area. The association applied for and received $150,000
in Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Tucson to be used for planning
and preliminary items such as site selection and site use proposals. The association conducted a survey and compiled a
list (and ranking) of things residents wanted to see in their library/learning center if
possible. The most recent City of Tucson
bond election included additional funding for the learning center and property at
Fairmount and Belvedere has been purchased as the building site.
A steering committee has been meeting with various city officials since 1997 and
the proposed time line has the design process taking place during 2002, actual
construction occurring in 2003 and occupancy by December 2003. The library will
focus on children’s books. The steering committee hopes to initiate a walking
(foot print) trail (based on the well-known “Freedom Trail” in Boston), tying
together the library/ learning center, John B. Wright Elementary School and the Botanical
Gardens which is located within the neighborhood’s boundaries.
-- Submitted by Martha Cooper, Vice
President, Midtown Neighborhood Association
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