Groundbreaking ceremony to be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 3 p.m.

INDIO – A long-awaited and historic groundbreaking ceremony will take place this week as the city breaks ground for construction of the new City Hall and Library. The new Civic Center Campus signifies a significant step forward in enhancing the community infrastructure for its residents, businesses, and future generations.

The highly anticipated event is set for Wednesday, Jan. 17 at  p.m. at Indio City Hall – East Parking Lot, 100 Civic Center Mall.

The new Civic Center Campus will utilize modern architectural designs, including a mid-century modern color palette that complements the city’s recently updated branding. This campus includes a 3-story City Hall and 1-story City Library. These buildings are stitched together with a paved public plaza and beautiful assortment of desert landscaping. The new Civic Center Campus will be located at the existing location of the current City Hall and Library.

With the help of a $4.6 million grant, this city will build a new state-of-the-art library, which is an integral component of the broader Civic Center Campus project. This financial milestone represents a significant investment in the community’s future and highlights the city’s unwavering dedication to education and community access.

The grant, awarded by the California State Library as part of their Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program, will provide substantial funding to support the construction and outfitting of the new Max T. McCandless Branch Library within the Riverside County Library System. The program had $175 million available to award eligible capital projects to address critical maintenance needs, improving energy efficiency and sustainability, and expanding access digitally and physically. This new facility will become a centerpiece for learning, creativity, and community engagement.

The library’s current location recently closed. The Riverside County Library System will utilize a temporary location, 45130 Oasis Street, allowing Indio residents and the community to still have access to library resources, check out and return books, and participate in various activities and programs. The temporary location is set to open on Jan. 1, 2024. Additionally, access to check out eBooks and eAudiobooks is available at www.rivlib.net.

“We are thrilled to announce the upcoming development of the new Indio Library,” said Joan Tyler, Chief Librarian of Riverside County Library System (RCLS). “This new facility will not only provide access to an extensive collection of books and digital resources but will also serve as a vibrant community hub. We invite everyone to stay connected and informed about the progress of this exciting project by following RCLS and Indio Library on Facebook or visiting our website at www.rivlib.net.”