A two-foot pedestal surrounded by Simsbury’s signature red stone, flowers and other plantings, and a solar-panel spotlight will be added this winter and early spring to the Simsbury Bike Sculpture, according to Ann Marie Potter of BikeWalkSimsbury!
“The bike sculpture gets a little lost the way that it’s currently displayed,” she said. “These enhancements will create more visual impact. This is certainly a work in progress.”
According to Potter, 61 individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations donated more than $10,000 to the bike sculpture, and several local businesses provided in-kind services.
“I’m amazed at how many people stepped up to help make this project a success,” Potter said. “And I find it quite exciting that there’s still forward momentum.”
Mark Mitchell of Mitchell Auto Group, the largest bike- sculpture donor, initiated discussions on the pedestal and will contribute the red stone border. Other businesses in town also may assist with the project.
Judy Larkin and Candise Peterson of the Simsbury Beautification Committee will spearhead the landscaping and plantings, which have not yet been determined.
“Eventually, we’d like to see a burst of color surrounding the bike sculpture. It will certainly be eye-catching,” Potter said.
Department of Public Works Director Tom Roy is researching solar-panel spotlights.
“We’ve had strong support from town officials,” she added, noting that the bike sculpture is located on town-owned land that was donated by the Simsbury Board of Selectmen.
An engraved plaque that lists donors will be installed in April or May adjacent to the bike sculpture, after the pedestal is completed. At that time, there will be an unveiling ceremony and a group photo.
The Simsbury Bike Sculpture was constructed by Simsbury metal-artist Vicente Garcia as a tribute to the town’s designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.
Garcia used more than 190 pieces of recycled steel to create the only large-scale bicycle sculpture in the Northeast Region.
It was installed in May on the corner Hopmeadow Street and Winslow Place in Weatogue.
Anyone interested in making a financial or in-kind contribution to the Simsbury Bike Sculpture Landscaping Project should contact Ann Marie Potter at ampotter3@sbcglobal.net.
