City of Cedar Hill, TX

Traphene Hickman Library in a Park

Population 10,000 to 49,000

When building a new library, the City of Cedar Hill looked to create more than just a space for books. They sought a true community hub that provided a variety of resources for residents while also maintaining the values of accessibility, equity, and sustainability. To do this, they had to rethink traditional locations and building structures and spent significant time engaging all stakeholders.

This first-of-its-kind facility was developed through extensive public engagement, data-driven planning, and strategic investments. The investment came from a combination of public funds, private investments, and grant funding to allow the Traphene Hickman Library in a Park to realize its full potential as a cultural destination to stimulate economic development and civic engagement.

The Library includes cutting-edge technology, a museum of city history, a professional podcast and music recording studio, nature trails, public art, and an outdoor performance area in the heart of the Signature Park. Sustainability was at the forefront in design considerations for the Library in a Park, garnering the city’s first LEED Silver certification for its incorporation of innovative energy saving features and context sensitive design.

In keeping with the city’s sustainability values, trees removed from the construction site were repurposed to create custom furniture, interior wall panels, and decorative features throughout the building—ensuring that nature remained an intentional part of the space. Its unique Library in a Park location allows for community access to expand beyond the building itself and for residents to enjoy activities beyond the traditional features of a library, incorporating both nature and play. As a result, the Library has seen great success, including a 250% increase in membership within the first six months of operation, over 40,000 attendees at events and programs, hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses engaging with the business center, and more than 30,000 visitors to the Signature Park since its opening.

The success of the library goes beyond the grounds. The new opportunities spurred by the catalytic nature of this project are expected to exceed over $155 million in private investments in the Midtown District where the facility is located and the Library in a Park has become a powerful symbol of equity and innovation for the Cedar Hill community and other communities that look to the success of Cedar Hill as a model for their own projects. The commitment to equity and inclusion began from the project’s development. 48.6% of project expenditures were minority and women-owned businesses, far surpassing traditional diversity benchmarks, and the end result demonstrates how local governments can redefine public spaces to drive both social and economic progress.

In addition to being a great success for the City of Cedar Hill, the Traphene Hickman Library in a Park sets an example for other local governments looking to develop similar centers of community life. The intentional focus on inclusivity from the very beginning stages led to a community resource for all— a location truly beyond the traditional library—brought to life through the collective fingerprints of a community deeply invested in its future. Cedar Hill was very fortunate to have strong support from elected leadership and the community at large, both young and old.

The community support led to intensive public engagement which led residents to feel invested in the process and allowed them to contribute to the overall design and development of the Library. The City also used this as an opportunity to showcase the project to the media and raise awareness about the role of local government in innovative urban planning. The Library in a Park is more than a library. It is a key feature of Cedar Hill’s community life which showcases the power of inclusive, forward-thinking, community-driven governance.