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 Cherry Alley When Urbana was founded in 1833, the downtown streets and alleys were named in the first plat. Most remain unchanged 170 years later, including Crane Alley, Goose Alley, and Fish Alley. The alley through the library block, which ran from Race Street to Cedar Street, was named Cherry Alley. The removal of an office building south of the library during the recent construction increased the visibility of our new Green Street façade and made way for a plaza, plantings, and additional library parking. The landscaped walkway from Race Street to the library’s south entrance is on the site of the historical Cherry Alley. Designated by a decorative arch at its east end, the plaza features an attractive walkway paved with personalized bricks, and two artworks commissioned by The Urbana Free Library Foundation, Slow and Steady, by Todd Frahm, and Ibidem, by Cecelia Allen. Other Cherry Alley enhancements include an herb garden and public seating. The plaza is a pleasant location for children’s programs and other outdoor library events–as well as a nice place to read a book, enjoy lunch or take advantage of the community’s Wi-Fi internet access. Funding for enhancements and artwork comes from individual contributions; no tax monies are used.
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