Council Member Mark Treyger joined Brooklyn Public Library officials yesterday to celebrate one of Gravesend’s most cherished cultural institutions – namely the reopening of the Ulmer Park Library, 2602 Bath Avenue.
The branch closed last year for capital improvements, which City Council Member Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams funded through their respective office allocations. The makeover included the installation of a new roof, ceilings, HVAC units, flooring, furniture and LED lighting.
“As a former educator, I have always believed that libraries are an extension of the classroom, and we must ensure that both our classrooms and libraries are comfortable, safe, and nurturing environments that allow residents to read and study in the most productive manner possible,” said Treyger.
“It is also important that our neighborhoods have cooling centers that can accommodate the needs of our residents, especially our children and seniors, during the hot summer months. The work completed at the Ulmer Park Library signifies a tremendous quality of life improvement for the Bensonhurst/Gravesend community, and I remain dedicated to helping maintain the quality of our local libraries,” the lawmaker added.
Located not far from Brooklyn’s southwestern shore, Ulmer Park Library serves one of the borough’s most diverse communities, including many families with young children who regularly attend the branch’s popular First Five Years programs.
The neighborhood is also home to many Chinese and Russian immigrants who visit the library daily to browse its multilingual collection or read newspapers in their native languages. The branch also hosts hundreds, if not thousands, of chess matches each year, ranging from fun and recreational to intensely competitive.
Treyger and Adams partnered to secure an allocation of $875,000 to cover the cost of the roof and enable BPL to undertake additional upgrades, which included the HVAC units, allowing the library to serve as a community cooling center for those wi9th no air conditioning on broiling hot summer days.
“Ulmer Park was long emblematic of the capital challenges we face in libraries throughout Brooklyn. We appreciate the support of our patrons throughout its renovation, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to a much improved, much more comfortable branch,” said BPL President and CEO Linda E. Johnson.
Adams, who is currently on an overseas diplomatic mission, said in a statement that libraries are cornerstones of quality neighborhoods, providing not only an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of reading but also the comfort of a safe activity space.
“These vital improvements to the Ulmer Park Branch will allow the entire community to benefit from a modern facility, particularly in the summer when many residents depend on the library as a cooling center. I join Council Member Treyger in looking forward to this library serving all generations in Gravesend and across Brooklyn, from the young to the young at heart,” said Adams.
Longtime branch manager Ed Flanagan the improvements will be immediately apparent to patrons familiar with the branch as it was and that the before and after difference is like “night and day.”
The public may visit the branch during its normal operating hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., MWF; from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesdays; from 1-8 p.m. on Thursday; and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
