FVRLibraries breaks ground for new Washougal Community Library

Friends group has raised $832,000 for $19.4 million project

Laura Klinger of Hacker Architects speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for FVRLibraries’ new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

FVRLibraries Executive Director Jennifer Giltrop speaks during a Thursday groundbreaking ceremony for the new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

Design renderings are posted at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for FVRLibraries’ new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

Jennifer Wilkerson, the executive director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation, speaks during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

Attendees wave to a photographer, taking a photo from the top floor of the Walden Apartments complex, during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for FVRLibraries’ new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

An attendee looks at a design rendering during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Washougal library. (Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

Key project participants shovel dirt during Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Washougal library. (Photos by Doug Flanagan/The Columbian)

For Cindy O’Mealy, Thursday’s groundbreaking event for FVRLibraries’ new Washougal facility brought a sense of relief after years of uncertainty. The president of the Friends of the Washougal Community Libraries group, which has raised $832,000 for the project, and other supporters never lost sight of their ultimate goal — even on the days when they felt it wasn’t going to come to fruition.

“It was touch-and-go there for a while, but we certainly didn’t give up,” O’Mealy said with a laugh.

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