Community works to improve Somerset Library lawn

• PHOTO: Working on lawn

On Monday, May 14, boot camp workers from the St. Croix Correctional Center in New Richmond dug holes, put up a fence, fertilized and seeded the area that will soon be the library’s new lawn for events and activities.

Talk about it

The area behind the Somerset Public Library is looking a lot nicer these days.

Thanks to the help of community members, the library’s back lawn is getting closer to reality.

The village bought the lot adjacent to the library in 2007 to eventually use for a library expansion. In June of 2008 the village had the building on that lot torn down and most of the rest of the lot has been left as a parking lot.

Library Director Norma Scott said over the years the vacant lot has become an eyesore and of little use to the library. Last year the library board brainstormed ways to clean up the area and make it usable for library patrons.

“We’ve never had much of a lawn and would like one to hold outside activities. So, last fall the library board decided to turn as much of the lot as possible into a grassy area,” Scott said.

She said Tiffany Moore applied for and was awarded a grant from the St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners to turn the lawn idea into reality.

Earlier this month the Village of Somerset Public Works Department dug up part of the lot, deposited black dirt and dropped off split rail fence components. Seemingly continuous rain prevented any progress on the project, though, Scott said.

Thanks to help from the community, a lot of progress has been made to the lawn project recently.

“Last Wednesday the teen group from St. Anne’s raked, rototilled and picked rocks. And Chris and Tiffany Moore and family strung a line as a fence guide,” Scott said.

On Monday boot camp workers from the St. Croix Correctional Center in New Richmond dug holes, put up the fence, fertilized and seeded the soon-to-be grassy area.

Scott said the boot camp inmates got a lot done in a short amount of time.

“After Bill Lawson cut down and disposed of the two arborvitaes that had taken over the front corners and sidewalks of the building, the boot camp workers removed the landscaping rocks so Dvorak could grind the stumps. The boot camp workers also weeded and cleaned up the area,” she said.

Scott said new shrubs will be planted where the trees once were.

She said the library is looking forward to having more lawn space this summer for events and activities and Scott said she’s thankful for everyone who has helped with the project.

Tags: communities, wisconsin, somerset