Several dozen donors, friends and supporters of the Simsbury Bike Sculpture attended a plaque unveiling ceremony on May 6 under beautiful sunny skies.
Project Manager Ann Marie Potter thanked "everyone who was willing to ride the ride with us, and play a part in installing the only large-scale bike sculpture on the East Coast Greenway ... and it's right here, in Simsbury, CT."
She noted that the project was "entirely funded" by donations of $10,100 and more than $5,000 of in-kind services.
"If you aren't one of the donors, you should still stand proud to be part of a community that's willing to think out-of-the-box, pitch in, and take a leap of faith on something a little different," Potter said.
The plaque and frame were revealed by Jill Mitchell, of Mitchell Auto Group, the single $1,000 donor to the project.
Simsbury artist Vicente Garcia, who also constructed the bike sculpture, welded more than 100 bike chains, cogs, brake rotors and chain rings onto the plaque frame. They were donated by The Bicycle Cellar.
Since installation last spring, the bike sculpture has been enhanced with landscaping and solar lighting.
Potter credited Simsbury Department of Works Director Tom Roy; Mike Girard of Simscroft-Echo Farms, Dave Burr, of D.W. Burr Landscape and Design, and Mickey Torro of C-TEC Solar.
She also acknowledged the support of First Selectman Mary Glassman and the entire Board of Selectman for donating land for the bike sculpture. The 18"x24" stainless-steel plaque lists more than 70 individuals, families, businesses and non-profit organizations.
"You believed in us and your names are forever engraved in the plaque," Potter said.
Simsbury was named in 2010 as the first Bicycle Friendly Community in Connecticut by the League of American Cyclists.
