We are pleased to announce the grand opening of our new Labyrinth on June 27th at 11:00 am, located just off the trail between the Library and Peet’s Hill parking lot. The eight-circuit, 52-ft diameter Labyrinth is comprised of reclaimed granite cobble, Montana sandstone, and creeping thyme. Native plantings and landforms create privacy for Labyrinth walkers while preserving views to the Lindley Park hillside and the Bridger Range beyond.
But what is a labyrinth exactly? The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that appears in a variety of cultures, dating as far back as 2,500 B.C. It combines the imagery of a circle and a spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It is not a maze. The labyrinth looks like a maze, but only has one path that leads to the center. Labyrinths are used worldwide to quiet the mind, meditate, self-reflect, reduce stress, and to discover innovation and celebration.
The Bozeman Public Library Labyrinth was spearheaded by Library supporter David Kingman in honor of his late wife Rocel who took comfort in walking a labyrinth when she was ill. It was designed by Shara Kees from Field Studio Landscape Architects. She began designing the labyrinth in collaboration with David Kingman and Bill Halpin of Greenspace Landscaping in winter of 2017 while working at DHM Design.
The opening celebration and dedication will take place between 11:00 – 11:30 am and is open to the community. A guided Labyrinth walk will follow the opening.
The Labyrinth itself will be accessible after June 27th, but the landscaped area around it will be temporarily fenced until the grasses have matured. We will host 3 guided Labyrinth walks during July. We hope you enjoy this excellent addition to the Library campus!
For more information please contact Janay Johnson at 406-582-2426 or janay@bozemanlibraryfoundation.org.