Community & Cultural Center and Library

Community & Cultural Center Foundation

Middle Smithfield Township created the nonprofit Middle Smithfield Township Community & Cultural Center Foundation to support the continuing development of the township’s Community & Cultural Center.  The Foundation’s mission will include fundraising for capital improvements as well as expanding community programming.

The mission of the Middle Smithfield Township Community & Cultural Center—created by the community, for the community—is to serve as “a space for good people to do good work, for the common good.” 

For more information, please visit our Community & Cultural Center Foundation page.

Community Room

The community room is available to charitable organizations. Anyone interested in reserving the space should contact the Events Coordinator for more information and to receive the rental application.

Community Center Rental Policy (PDF)

Applications must be received at least 10 business days before the requested event date. The Township does not accept applications for personal events.

Visit the Community Room page for more information including event calendar.

Rotating Exhibits

Art and history exhibits are installed in the Exhibit Hall and the Community Room on a rotating basis. Check out the calendar on the Exhibit Hall page for what's currently on display.

Library of the Smithfields

The Library of the Smithfields is a branch of The Eastern Monroe Public Library which consists of the main library in Stroudsburg, (known as the Hughes Library), the Bookmobile, and the Pocono Township Library on Route 611 in Tannersville.

The library's hours are:

• Monday-Wednesday, 9am-5pm
• Thursday, 10am-7pm
• Friday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
• Sunday, closed

For information on the Library of the Smithfields, please visit the Library page on our website, or visit the Eastern Monroe Public Library website or call the Library of the Smithfields at 570-223-1881.

Rain Garden

In 2021, Middle Smithfield Township partnered with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Monroe County to plan and install a rain garden in front of the Community & Cultural Center. The Township applied for and received a $25,000 Healing the Planet Grant from The Giant Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The grant funded several projects in Echo Lake Park including trail improvements, new waste receptacles, and funding to install the rain garden.  The Penn State Master Gardeners planned and installed the garden and continue to manage the garden for the Township and as a demonstration area for the public.

Rain gardens are landscape features that an increasing number of homeowners, businesses, and local governments are installing to reduce the stormwater that flows off their properties. These infiltration basins come in many shapes and sizes, but all rain gardens collect stormwater runoff from roofs, parking lots, or other hard surfaces so some of this water will soak into the ground instead of flowing onto nearby properties or into municipal storm sewer systems. Rain gardens contain plants (natives preferred) that provide many functions and benefits. The plants absorb stormwater, remove runoff pollutants, provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, and beautify the places where we live and work. Penn State Extension has developed a rich collection of materials related to building, planting, and maintaining rain gardens. 

For more information about rain gardens, please visit the Penn State Master Gardeners website.

About the Community & Cultural Center

The Middle Smithfield Township Community & Cultural Center, built from 2019-2021, was created by the community, for the community, as "a space for good people to do good work, for the common good." 

The space is designed to be a space for:

• The community to gather
• An exhibit space for local artists and art organizations
• A home for the Library of the Smithfield
• Red Cross certified emergency shelter during emergencies

The Great Hall will serve as a local museum for revolving exhibits based on the anniversary of local events and the history of the area.

The space also serves as an event center for township and community-minded events, and can also be used for ongoing programming for residents by charitable organizations, such as:

• Tai Chi classes
• Blood drives by the Red Cross
• Free services by local health networks such as mammograms
• Classes taught by Penn State Extension, and more

Several community events that take place annually include Memory Makers, Veterans Luncheon and Person of the Year, and many more.

Enjoy the video and the memories, and enjoy the possibilities for the future!