It Needed to be Done
- Jodi Brunner
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Problems with the entrance to the Plattsburgh Public Library had been an issue for decades. There were cracks in the ramp and the steps and the grade of the ramp was too steep and therefore not ADA compliant. The situation was getting worse and safety concerns were growing.
To address the issues, the library applied for, and was awarded State funding in 2022. Then the planning process began. Architectural & Engineering Design Associates (AEDA) of West Plattsburgh created a plan that would widen the ramp, decrease its slope, improve the configuration of the steps, and add new railings.
The plans went out for bid and work began in August of 2024. Demolition removed the old railings, took out the crumbling steps, stripped away the ramp, and uprooted the overgrown vegetation. The initial work was done by Akwesasne Mohawk Equipment (AME) of Hogansburg, New York. Through fall and winter, the work proceeded on schedule. By January AME was ready to turn the project over to subcontractor Duquette Steel of Plattsburgh. Installation moved quickly and the finished project was ready to welcome patrons in February.
If you haven’t visited the library recently, stop by and admire the work and then take a few minutes to enjoy the mural on the south side of the building. Based on the book, “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” by North Country teacher Kate Messner, it is made up of stamped, clay fired and glazed tiles that depict the story of a girl and her grandmother as they learn about nature and gardening. The effort was spearheaded by former Library director Anne de la Chapelle, artist Sue Young of Jay, New York and the Friends of the Library. Adults and children of all ages participated in the creative process. Completed in 2017 the mural is a joy to behold.
Plattsburgh Public Library
19 Oak St.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 563-0921
Akwesasne Mohawk Equipment
447 Frogtown Road
Hogansburg, NY 13655
607 768-3618
Duquette Steel
1930 Sharon Avenue
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 563-3161
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