Friends Ask for Your Support for the Library in the Park

(This letter was submitted by the Friends of Scarsdale Library)

Dear Friends of the Scarsdale Library,

Happy Spring, nicer weather is just around the corner! We wanted to reach out to you to share an important and exciting giving opportunity for the Scarsdale Library.

As you may know, the library’s building and offerings underwent a total transformation five years ago, leveraging a partnership between the Village and hundreds of private donors to help fulfill the vision of a transformed and reimagined library. Now, we are well into the follow-up phase, where the Library’s outdoor setting is being enhanced and repurposed. Library in the Park is a visionary project to make the Library’s surrounding two acres into a true campus, providing more open-air programming, inviting spaces for reading and study, socializing, and interactive events for Scarsdale children and adults alike. With your support, we can redefine how our community experiences the outdoors and ensure the Library remains a vibrant, inclusive destination for generations to come.

Thanks to many generous donors, we are so close to reaching our $2.5 million goal! We have about $500,000 left to go to complete this amazing project.

The increase from our initial goal reflects several important developments as the project has evolved over the last couple of years. Infrastructure costs—particularly for drainage and structural work—were significantly higher than anticipated due to challenging soil conditions, requiring more extensive and costly site preparation. Additionally, while our initial budget was based on a masterplan, more accurate figures only became available after a detailed cost estimate was completed. We also made a strategic decision to shift the project’s direction and scope, which included bringing on a new architect better suited to the revised vision. These changes, while thoughtful and necessary, contributed to the overall cost escalation.

We’ve come so far—and now we’re in the home stretch. With just $500,000 left to raise, this is the perfect moment to get involved and help bring this beautiful vision to life.

We'd love for you to consider joining this community-wide effort by purchasing a tax-deductible paver or other naming opportunity inscribed with your family’s name as part of the Library’s campus.

In addition to pavers, every contribution—regardless of size—helps bring this vision to life. Smaller gifts can be made here, while larger donations and naming opportunities offer a chance to make an even greater impact. We would love the opportunity to sit down with you to share the full Library in the Park plan. Additionally, we’re always happy to provide a tour and explore meaningful ways for you to get involved.

With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, the lessons we’ve learned highlight the importance of flexible outdoor spaces for our well-being and the essential role of nature in our lives. Other libraries are beginning to explore similar projects, but with your generosity, we can lead the way in making Scarsdale’s Library in the Park a model for the country.

Thank you for your support in making this next chapter of the Scarsdale Library a reality! Please let us know if you would like a tour of the campus and the plans. We would love to show you the vision for the next chapter for our beloved library and how you can participate.

Warmly,

Daniela Retelny and Toby Milstein Schulman
Co-Presidents, Friends of the Scarsdale Library