In 2023, Park County Commissioners agreed to provide up to $3.2 million for the demolition of the old structure and the building of a new Powell Library.

Now, with the building’s grand opening scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Friday, the county will likely be able to repurpose all of that money, received during Covid as part of the federal government’s massive disbursement of funds to states, after the new library came in under budget and raised a good bit of money in fundraising efforts. 

The library has used all of the $9.38 million grant it received from the state as well as roughly $150,000 from the library foundation, which paid for special items such as the specially made circulation desk, laptop bar, and custom play wagon for the kids, as well as many more items.

Park County Commissioner Dossie Overfield, liaison to the county library board, said the plan is to repurpose at least some of that money to help pay for the Park County Law Enforcement Center HVAC project. 

The old library, a building that had been added onto over the decades, was demolished in the summer of 2024, with work on the new building getting underway that fall. The work was primarily to be funded by what was initially $8.2 million (later bumped up another nearly $1.2 million) in grants from the state via federal Covid-era funds, funds raised by the library foundation and the county funds. Park County Libraries Director Karen Horner said the foundation was able to fund much more than initially expected and appreciated their hard work. 

“The library foundation did a fantastic job,” Overfield said. 

At an April 7 meeting where County Engineer Brian Edwards asked commissioners to release most of Groathouse Construction’s retainage funds ($332,382) as work wound down, Edwards also praised the company for its part in constructing a new building without blowing the budget. 

“Groathouse did an outstanding job,” he said. “It’s an awesome building, a big improvement over what they had.”

Overfield noted library staff were also key to the success of the construction, as library leaders determined various aspects of the design and made sure it was all well within the budget. 

Library grand opening Friday

When the doors of the new Powell Library officially open on Friday afternoon, the celebration is going to spill out into the street.

The 1-5 p.m. grand opening will not only feature events inside the new building, but also food trucks and vendors out in front, on Third Street.

“We’re really excited to finally open our doors, after two years being at the fairgrounds,” Powell Branch Manager Roseanne Seymour said earlier this month.

The library temporarily moved to the Park County Fairgrounds’ Homesteader Hall in May 2024, and the old building was demolished late that summer. The library had its final day at Homesteader Hall on April 1 and staff have been moving into and preparing the new building since then.

The new 14,000 square foot facility — which features roughly twice the usable space as the former building — was designed with a focus on open, flexible spaces and wound up coming in under budget (see related story).

To help celebrate, the Powell City Council agreed to the library’s request to close Third Street between Clark and Bent streets.

Park County Library Director Karen Horner “has always wanted to have a food truck at a library event,” Seymour told the council on April 6. “We’re hoping that this will be the time.”

Councilors had no concerns and unanimously approved the request.

“[We’re] definitely looking forward to a beautiful building,” said Councilman Steve Lensegrav.

Seymour mentioned that the event will include activities, including face painting and a craft for kids. Meanwhile, inside the building, the Homesteader Museum has put together a presentation showing Powell’s different libraries over the last century.

“It should be a really good day,” Seymour said.