MARS — Adams Township and the Mars Public Library will receive a $500,000 grant to help fund the construction of a new library.

The two entities applied for the state Department of Education grant in October. The 2016 Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant was announced at the Monday night meeting of the Adams Township supervisors.

Vince Gadrix, the Mars library director, said Tuesday the two entities still have some administrative issues to work out.

He said there will be an open house in three to four weeks to present the plans for the new library to the public. He said an architect will be on hand to explain the design and answer questions from residents.

While Gadrix could not divulge any details on the library’s design, the letter from the education department states “Adams Township will receive $500,000 to construct a two-story, energy-efficient building meeting ADA guidelines.”

In October, Gadrix and a member of the library’s board of directors met with the township supervisors to hammer out the specifics of applying jointly for the grant.

It was mentioned that the new library might be built at the township park, and that it would be a $4.5 million project.

But John Watson of the Mars Historical and Landmark Society said moving the library to the township park would be detrimental to one of the borough’s main attractions, which is a walkable main street.

“If you pull the library from Mars, it’s going to hurt a lot of businesses,” Watson said in October.

The library is currently near the end of Grand Avenue, which is Mars’ main street. The library has outgrown its building and parking is inadequate.

The letter confirming the receipt of the grant also states that Adams Township would pay the $500,000 up front and then be reimbursed by the education department.

It also states that bids for construction on the new library may not begin and financial commitments cannot be made until the education department approves the contract and bid specifications connected to the project.

Gadrix said he will announce the date of the open house in the near future.

He said the two entities have worked on the grant application for the past two years.

“We’re very proud, after all this work we’ve done, to move ahead,” Gadrix said of receiving the grant.

The supervisors on Monday night voted unanimously to accept the grant.