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Park near new Cedar Rapids library to honor Allsop family
The Robert and Elizabeth Allsop Charitable Trust recently announced a ‘significant’ investment in the westside library project
Dec. 22, 2025 2:19 pm, Updated: Dec. 22, 2025 3:10 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — A city park planned near the new Cedar Rapids Public Library — Busse Branch will be named Allsop Park in honor of a “major gift” from the charitable trust of a longtime Cedar Rapids business leader.
The Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation announced the gift and dedication in a Monday press release. The donation comes from the Robert and Elizabeth Allsop Charitable Trust, although its total was not disclosed.
“This remarkable gift goes a long way to fulfilling our vision of a library within a park, creating a community hub that will offer much-needed park space for generations to come,” Library Foundation Executive Director Charity Tyler said in the release.
The family-run trust responsible for the gift is named for Robert Allsop, a longtime Cedar Rapids business leader who died in 2022, and his wife, Elizabeth.
The donation will go toward the westside library project, which is currently under construction on 20th Avenue SW off Edgewood Road. The 40,000-square foot facility is expected to double available collections and meeting spaces when compared to the existing Ladd Library on Williams Boulevard SW.
To further honor the contribution, the library’s meeting rooms will be collectively named the “Allsop Conference and Learning Center.” That will include the 150-person Allsop Auditorium, as well as an adjacent kitchenette and the 16-person Allsop Community Room.
“Investing in the future of the westside library is an investment in people — young and old — whose lives will help shape the future of Iowa and the world,” Steve Allsop said in the release. “To the Allsop family, investment in the library was natural.”
Once complete, the Busse Branch will sport a north-facing facade made entirely of glass that will overlook what will eventually become Allsop Park. Plans for the park are currently under development with an updated timeline expected in 2026.
Previously completed community polling for the project showed a desire for amenities such as walking trails, a community garden and an area dedicated to youth activities.
“We’re pleased to move into the next phase of planning,” Parks and Recreation Director Carrie Mardorf said in the release. “This support helps us continue developing the park space and aligning it with the broader goals of the library project.”
The library itself is expected to open in the fall of 2026. The $25 million project is funded through a mix of private donations and public dollars — including $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The branch is named for the Busse Foundation, a family-run charitable trust that this year announced a $3.5 million donation to the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation's $10 million “Inspiring Big Dreams” capital campaign.
Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com
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