By Madison Public Library Team
Madison’s 10th public library location opened Sept. 25 in Reindahl Park, located off East Washington Avenue at 1814 Parkside Dr.
This is the first new library added to the Madison Public Library system in over 25 years. The Imagination Center has been under construction since April 2025 and underwent multiple community input sessions over the past several years.
Reindahl Park is already an exciting hub of activity, with a community garden, splash pad, tennis and pickleball courts, cricket fields and much more. The Imagination Center was built within the park to create a multifunctional, indoor-outdoor park pavilion and library.
The Imagination Center was built in conjunction with nature and therefore has several sustainability features throughout its design. Some features include solar arrays on the roof, geothermal energy, VOC-free paints and products, and more.
Outside, the design includes a solar tree that will generate renewable energy while also being a striking landmark, as well as savanna-inspired plantings that reflect Wisconsin’s native landscapes. The landscape design firm prioritized resilient, drought-tolerant native species that support pollinators, improve wildlife habitat, and naturally manage stormwater.
The Imagination Center Library includes a 46,000-item collection. As with other libraries, free Wi-Fi and public computing for printing, copying, faxing and scanning are provided.
This library goes beyond books, providing multiple spaces for community engagement and connection. Visitors will find a classroom, community room, and reservable, four-season park pavilion space, in addition to study rooms, a family hub, quiet reading room and four outdoor patio spaces.
Plus, there is a wonderful sculpture by Wisconsin-born artist Nate Page, who was selected by the Madison Arts Commission to bring his piece, “The Passage of Being,” to life. The front of the sculpture represents the strength of community, drawing from the national flags of prominent immigrant communities in Northeast Madison, while the back reflects the surrounding park and its activity onto the library’s architecture.
The community has been involved in the process of conceptualizing the Imagination Center from the very beginning, and another piece of community that will be involved are local business owners.
The library worked with a group of local businesses on a special “Welcome to the Neighborhood” promotion, running now through the end of December. Anyone who signs up for a NEW library card in-person at the Imagination Center Library will receive a coupon booklet with exclusive offers from 10 nearby businesses.
It’s a great opportunity to #SupportLocal, discover new places to eat, sip and shop in the neighborhood, and learn about all the new library services and resources available when you have a Madison Public Library card.
