The Board of Supervisors Tuesday is expected to approve more than doubling the budget for a project to redo the Riverside County Library System’s Home Gardens branch, implementing a series of renovations intended to benefit all visitors, but especially kids.
The Office of Economic Development is seeking the board’s authorization to increase the total budget outlay for the “Home Gardens Library Refresh Project” from the original sum of $1.34 million to $2.83 million, relying on a mix of local and federal grant funds, as well as sign off on a contract with Temecula-based Reed Family Enterprises Inc. to handle the work.
The project was initiated in October 2023 as part of a system-wide effort to make improvements. The original budget was derived from base level funding that, over the last year, was augmented after the county received federal community development block grants and was able to apply remaining 2021 American Rescue Plan Act allocations for the enterprise, according to documents posted to the board’s agenda for Tuesday.
Roughly $1 million of locally generated funds will be allotted for the refresh, officials said.
“The Home Gardens Library Refresh Project will renovate the library, replacing all furniture, finishes, adding a dedicated children’s reading room, opportunity room and acoustic improvements,” according to an RCLS statement. “These upgrades create a welcoming environment for continued lifelong learning and personal enrichment, enhancing community welfare.”
A new playground will be part of the facility overhaul, along with a new roof.
Reed Family Enterprises was selected following a solicitation from regional contractors for bids in January. A total of 10 prospective contractors responded to the county’s request for bids, and the Temecula-based company was deemed most “responsive … and responsible,” according to the Office of Economic Development.
The project is set to start by summer and continue through the remainder of the year.