Northport library begins parking lot fixes

Work began this week on safety improvements to the parking lot and rear entrance of the Northport Public Library.

Library director Eileen Minogue said the parking lot of the 14-year-old Laurel Avenue building had settled, leaving the curbs, sidewalks and asphalt at uneven levels and causing a tripping hazard.

The library had been patching the areas to avoid the hazard, but a permanent fix came in the form of a $20,000 state grant for repairs the library received in September.

As an additional part of the project, two handicapped parking spaces on Scudder Avenue will be swapped with two regular spaces in the library's rear 27-space parking lot, bringing the number of handicapped spots in the lot up to four, and a step from Scudder Avenue to the library will be removed.

The library's book drops also will be relocated from inside the parking lot to the entrance of the lot, reducing car traffic there, Minogue said.

FML Contracting of Carle Place began the work on Wednesday, Minogue said. During construction, which is scheduled to take two weeks, the library asks that patrons use the front entrance.

Minogue said the mild weather allowed the library to push up construction by a week and a half; initially, the plan was to begin the work in mid-April.

During construction, library staff has been escorting seniors and those with mobility issues from the front entrance to their cars, carrying their bags for them, Minogue said.

"We have a large senior citizen population that depends on the library, which is wonderful," she said. "We just want safe access."