Kingston library proposes outdoor community center with amphitheater, water lab and senior equipment

The Town of Kingston presented design-review plans April 15 for an outdoor community center behind the Kingston Community Library that would add porous parking, a water lab, an amphitheater, nature-play trails and senior exercise equipment.

Landscape architect Jeff (Ironwood Design Group) told the Planning Board the plans are about 75% complete and intended to be advanced to 100% for grant applications. The proposal generally locates new features in the rear and side yards of the 3.43-acre municipal parcel and uses porous pavement and rain gardens to keep stormwater onsite.

Why it matters: The library trustees and the library director said the features respond to a town survey and are intended both to expand programming options and to provide a public outdoor resource. The plan would add roughly 20 porous parking spaces, a pavilion and constellation of play and learning features intended to be open to the public even when the library building is closed.

Key elements and planning comments: The proposal includes a climbing/play structure and a stainless-steel, hand-pumped “water lab” supplied from a cistern, woodland trail elements, an amphitheater, a small pavilion and several senior exercise stations (sourced from manufacturer Lapset). Jeff said the design will infiltrate all stormwater onsite and avoid a net increase in pipe outfall. Library director Melissa Fannin said she had consulted police, fire and highway departments and that those departments had suggested operational measures (lighting schedules, locked equipment when warranted, plowing and safety recommendations) to support public access.

Board and staff feedback focused on wetlands, lighting, parking and adjacency to property lines. Town planner Glenn Greenwood noted a wetland in the northwest corner and asked the team to ensure no damage from parking or snow storage; he also urged dark-sky compliant exterior lighting and suggested shifting some play elements farther from a property line to increase separation. Board members asked whether the parking count was sufficient for amphitheater events; the design team said parking was sized using industry standards and that trustees had discussed overflow and shared parking with a nearby property owner for event days.

Public comments: No substantive opposition was raised during the public comment period; trustees and the library director emphasized the project’s programmatic goals and community outreach. The board will track final stormwater, wetland and lighting details as plans advance and will expect a full submission when the library seeks grant funding or public-bid-ready construction documents.

Ending: The planning board closed public comment on the library design review and indicated staff will continue to review technical details when a full submission is filed; the trustees plan to pursue grant funding to complete and bid the work.