A reconstruction project designed to boost outdoor programming and extend the life of a growing zelkova tree at Sharpsburg Community Library is underway.
Crews from the Davey Tree Expert Co. in Richland began moving dirt and vegetation April 27 at 1212 Main St.
One of two zelkova trees, both estimated to be 40 feet tall, was removed along with a lot of gravel, sand and the courtyard’s permeable brick pavers.
Excavation is phase one of a two-part project in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh and senior arborist Meg Cerveny.
Tree roots were beginning to strangle each other, and one tree needed to be removed so the other could thrive. There also were concerns of roots raising pavers causing an uneven walking surface.
No heavy equipment is being used in the excavation. Work is being done by hand. The courtyard is about 1,200 square feet.
New structural soil will be installed to minimize future problems with hardscape areas.
Structural soil is described as an engineered blend of large-size aggregate, such as crushed stone, and a small amount of topsoil. It is designed to provide a stable growing space for tree roots while being strong enough for paved surfaces.
The soil formula used in Sharpsburg was created by Cornell University.
Cerveny met with library branch manager Sara Mariacher on May 4.
So far, Cerveny has been impressed with the work.
“I’m really excited,” said Cerveny, who makes daily inspections of the root invigoration. “I’ve actually shown this project to someone from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy already. They do a lot of school courtyards, and they like to see that this is an option now in a school courtyard scenario. This is already making an impact.”
Phase one including arborist services is being covered as part of an $8 million federal grant received last year by the Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance Partners through the U.S. Forest Service via the Inflation Reduction Act. The estimated cost is at least $10,000.
Cerveny expected her part of the project would be done May 8.
Mariacher said the use of structural soil and finding healthy roots deeper underground than expected is a stress relief.
“I’ve been tremendously impressed with the depth and breath of knowledge of Meg and Tree Pittsburgh, and the steady rate of work that’s being completed by Davey,” Mariacher said.
“I anticipated this being a much longer process, and every day I come in and we’ve migrated farther down into the courtyard. I’m very excited about all of the progress that is being made. … We don’t have to worry about the tree being cared for long term while still being able to elaborate on our usable space in the courtyard.”
New pavers, wooden fence replacement and rod iron fence repairs are part of phase two. All work is expected to be completed by late June.
Sharpsburg Council voted April 23 to award the $24,480 renovation contract to Pampena Landscaping and Construction.
The project is funded and designed by the library. Borough engineer Matt Pitsch helped with the plans and bidding process.
Council’s vote was required because the borough owns the building.
Pampena’s work will begin shortly after Tree Pittsburgh’s part.
Change of plans
The Sharpsburg library is a branch of the Fox Chapel-based Cooper-Siegel Community Library.
Between 2,000 and 2,500 people visit the branch each month.
Library officials had to change its courtyard plans late last year after bids for the work came in over budget.
There were four bidders with price ranges between $64,000 and $167,000.
The library has about $30,000 earmarked for the project.
“We made some cost-saving changes to the plans and were able to get the project within budget and below the borough’s threshold for bidding so we did not need to rebid the project,” said Jill McConnell, Cooper-Siegel’s executive director.
“The drawings/plans themselves did not change all that much. We just selected a less expensive paver and removed the extra aesthetic pieces, such as a bench and some large planters, from the original plans. These are things we can add in as we get the funds to do so.”
Mariacher said they were told their original schematics included “the Cadillac of pavers.”
She does not anticipate project adjustments having an impact on future outdoor programs.
Pampena was one of the original bidders.
The courtyard was created in 2014 as part of a major library expansion that was completed the following year.
Cerveny was introduced to the Sharpsburg Community Library via the nonprofit Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization.
Library funds are part of a $78,324 grant from the Allegheny Regional Asset District’s Transformative Community Library Fund.
The grant’s initial purpose was to create locker stations at the Sharpsburg library and near Jersey Mike’s sub shop in Blawnox.
The lockers were meant to be creative and convenient places for people to pick up and return materials.
Ribbon-cuttings took place at both locations Aug. 13.
Some money also was used for a study to assess the hours of operation and recommend times to better serve patrons.
The courtyard’s finishing touch will be a mural.
Library officials said they plan to work with Nanci Goldberg, founder and director of Artspiration and owner of Ketchup City Creative in Sharpsburg, in the coming months to find artists.