The Hayward Public Library is set to celebrate a significant milestone this month, commemorating five years since the establishment of its modern downtown branch. The event will unfold on Sept. 14, with a public announcement detailing a full day packed with community-engaging activities, including art exhibitions, live music, poetry readings, a garden tour, yoga sessions, Storytime for children, and the much-anticipated reveal of the winner of the library card design contest.

Located at 888 C Street, the downtown library opened its doors on Sept. 14, 2019. It was subsequently joined by Heritage Plaza, positioned across C Street, which is a tribute to the library’s original downtown location. Like its neighboring library, the plaza features sprawling lawns, various walkways, benches, gardens, and an arboretum that boasts 40 species of trees. Both sites represent the crowning achievements of Hayward's ongoing capital improvement initiative, which has been generously financed through a half-cent sales tax, known as Measure C, that was greenlighted by Hayward voters back in June 2014, as per the City of Hayward.

These infrastructure developments aren't the only projects funded by Measure C. The city has also seen renovations and seismic updates to five local fire stations, the creation of a new Fire Station No. 6, the erection of a Regional Fire Training Center on the west side of the city, and the completion of a major street Pavement Improvement Project, which, at the time, held the record as the largest in city history.

The forthcoming anniversary celebration is an all-day affair at the downtown library, scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.