Sharpsburg Community Library courtyard to be renovated

Sara Mariacher has a vision of people reading, doing crafts and enjoying each other’s company outdoors.

The Sharpsburg Community Library branch manager sees just that in the near future for the courtyard at 1212 Main St.

“I’m an idea person,” Mariacher said. “We’ll definitely be incorporating more outdoor activities into our existing after-school programs. We’ll hopefully be starting music nights, possibly, with local performers. You just kind of sit and vibe and enjoy the outdoors.”

Library officials believe these ideas, as well as fitness classes and more will become possible following a renovation project currently in its design phase.

“It gives the branch more choices as far as where to have their programs instead of always being relegated to one space in the building that everybody needs and wants to use all of the time,” Cooper-Siegel Community Library Executive Director Jill McConnell said.

Some of the most popular current courtyard events include the annual garden party with the Sharpsburg Garden Club and the “Haunted Courtyard” during the borough’s Halloween-themed festivities.

Renovation planning began a few months ago.

Project cost estimates were unavailable at press time.

Challenging terrain

One of the driving forces behind the project is safety concerns.

Created in 2014 as part of a major library expansion that was completed the following year, the outdoor space has seen better days.

Roots from its two large Zelkova trees have forced the courtyard’s permeable brick pavers to become uneven in many locations, creating tripping hazards. Chairs often lean to one side or the other, making seating uncomfortable. And there’s an increased risk of items falling off tables.

“It’s becoming a hazard, especially for folks with mobility issues (and) young children,” Mariacher said. “We’re very much a program-centric library. It’s difficult to do programs in the courtyard whenever that’s the state of the courtyard.”

The library has partnered with Tree Pittsburgh arborist Meg Cerveny to address the trees.

“One tree has some girdling roots,” Cerveny said. “I can justify helping them with that one by removing it. The other tree is healthy. I cannot just remove trees. They have to have a risk, but I offered to prune the (healthy) tree for them.”

Cerveny described girdling as roots encircling a tree’s trunk and growing into it, damaging and squeezing the tree, cutting off its nutrient supply, which can be fatal over time.

She estimates both trees are about 35- to 40-feet tall.

Mariacher said the library had arborists tend to the trees every few years so they wouldn’t damage the building or the nearby post office.

Removing the girdling tree would create space for the remaining one’s roots to thrive.

That, combined with the use of structural soil, should minimize future problems with hardscape areas, Cerveny said.

Structural soil is described as an engineered blend of large-size aggregate, like crushed stone and a small amount of topsoil. It’s designed to provide a stable, uncompacted growing space for tree roots while being strong enough for paved surfaces.

“It’s enough of an airspace underground that the roots are able to grow and survive so the tree doesn’t suffer,” Cerveny said. “The roots don’t do what they normally do under pavement. That’s why it’s a cool project and solution for that small courtyard.”

It is unclear how much excavation will be required.

Cerveny said keeping both trees would require an intensive management plan and may not prove beneficial for the library in the long run.

The hope is to start excavation sometime later this year.

Cerveny’s services and pending tree removal are 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.

Cerveny was introduced to the Sharpsburg Community Library via the nonprofit Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization.

Project drawings

Library officials have teamed with landscape designer Bill Staley of Fox Chapel to create several redesigns of the courtyard.

The plan most likely to be used shows at least two seating areas in the space where the proposed tree is to be removed.

Designs with both trees still in the courtyard were created, but are not being given as strong consideration.

Plans also include new furniture and larger permeable pavers to help improve stability and aesthetics, as well as a variety of indigenous pollinator plants for the flower bed.

Among the plant options are coneflowers, creeping blue sedum, serviceberry, lady fern and blue angel hosta.

Staley has a degree in landscape architecture from Penn State University and has years of experience in the field.

He called the proposed tree removal a tough but good decision for the courtyard with long-term benefits.

The project is not without its challenges, including limited access to the site and preserving the remaining tree.

“There’s some delicacy to it,” Staley said. “It’s definitely not an easy project. It’s definitely not the hardest, either.”

Library officials said the goal is to have plans finalized soon and put out a request for proposals in the coming weeks. A construction contract may be awarded sometime next month.

Staley said it’s an honor to use his talents to benefit the community.

“The things that Jill and the directors are planning on doing are really great for the community,” Staley said. “What we’re trying to do with this new design is to really elevate the courtyard to accommodate the various programming elements that they want to bring outside. I think there’s a strong element of durability and longevity in what we’re proposing, which will serve the library for years to come.”

McConnell said she found Staley through a community Facebook page and has been impressed by his work ethic.

Finishing touches

Library officials said they plan to work with Nanci Goldberg, founder and director of Artspiration and owner of Ketchup City Creative in Sharpsburg, to find artists for a mural in the courtyard.

Goldberg said she reached out to McConnell once she heard about the project.

“I’m a strong believer in the importance of a community library and I wanted to be able to help with this project, so I’m donating my time,” Goldberg said Sept. 4.

The mural will be a springtime development. Its timeline will be determined by the library and project progression.

Goldberg will assist library officials with seeking and reviewing applications as well as artist interviews.

Mariacher said the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on mural design once an artist is selected.

More information about that process is expected to be released in the coming months.

Goldberg anticipates the mural being the final phase of the renovations.

Project funding

Cooper-Siegel was awarded a $78,000 grant through the Allegheny Regional Asset District grant from RAD’s Transformative Community Library Fund.

McConnell said about $26,000 of it was used on creating material pickup lockers at the Sharpsburg library and at 171 Freeport Road near Jersey Mike’s sub shop in Blawnox. Both lockers are located outside.

The lockers are free and available to patrons 24/7. They are used nationally by libraries and are touted for their contactless pickups, space-saving convenience, ‘round-the-clock accessibility and secure operating methods.

Remaining grant funds are expected to be used toward the courtyard project, programming facility upgrades and a recently completed Community Needs Survey.

Library usage

The Sharpsburg branch has seen an uptick in usage lately.

According to the library’s annual report, it had 22,304 visitors last year, which was a 9% increase compared to 2023.

Nearly 5,000 people attended Sharpsburg library programs, about 6,570 people used its computers and Wi-Fi service and more than 35,900 items were borrowed.

Its programs are free and very few require registration.

More information on offerings at both libraries is available at coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com.