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Plattsburgh advances beach projects and seeks playground grant; RFP out for dune work and events planned
Summary
Councilors and staff updated the council on a released RFP for beach dune restoration, exploration of a municipal parks and recreation playground grant, stage and restroom improvements and visitor website updates. Staff said small change orders for park capital projects are charged to the parks and youth capital project balance.
City staff told the Common Council that a request for proposals for a beach dune restoration project has been released and that proposals are due next week, part of a continuing push to implement the city’s beach-master plan.
The update matters because the beach work ties into multiple funding and visitor‑promotion efforts: staff described a municipal parks and recreation grant opportunity with a first round of $10 million in statewide funding and a maximum award of $1 million per application. Staff cautioned that the program’s first-round funds will prioritize projects closer to New York City and that the competition is expected to be strong. Councilors discussed whether to pursue playground funding specifically or to fold a new playground into a larger implementation grant for boardwalk or pier work.
Staff said the beach master plan already calls for a playground sited where the current vendor building sits; that building had been expected to be removed and replaced with a larger vendor complex in the plan, which affects where a playground could be placed. Councilors flagged design issues including heavy sun exposure in parts of the parking lot and asked that shading be considered in any playground design.
Staff also reported that the RFP for dune restoration has been issued and that proposals are due next week. They said the boardwalk and pier concepts had previously been scoped in other grants and could be combined with playground work in future applications.
Officials discussed the portable stage the city purchased during the pandemic and how it could be used this summer. Staff said the stage will be used for several summer events, including the Mayor’s Cup concert slated for July 12 (an artist name was referenced in the meeting as under confirmation) and the Lake City Running Festival, which plans to use the stage for post‑race activities. Staff said church and community groups have also requested use of the stage and that the city will promote the resource more actively.
Other items included a recent photo update showing progress on a renovated public restroom at the beach and plans to add a beach‑focused page and an arts-and-culture page to the DiscoverPlattsburgh visitor website, funded from earlier DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) funds. Staff noted a separate grant announcement for riverwall repairs and said the city will apply for that funding to repair a failing wall near downtown monuments.
At the start of the work session a council member asked about small change orders (example cited: roughly $1,300). Staff explained that change orders add to an original contract price and that the additional sums are paid from the city’s parks and youth vacation capital project balance rather than from operating budgets; the council member confirmed that the accounting was accurate.
Ending: Staff will return with proposals and application-ready scopes for the playground and continue to accept RFP responses for dune restoration; the council should expect grant-application recommendations in coming meetings.
