Proposed Bike Park Approved by School Board
KCCI’s proposed Sabal Palm Elementary Bike Park project has been unanimously approved by the School Board of Leon County and is underway. KCCI’s 2020 Community Catalysts have worked closely with school leaders, local businesses and the community to make this happen. Thank you to Leon County Schools for approving the project.
The Bike Park will highlight cycling and improve cycling safety by leading early education efforts on safe riding. Sabal Palm Elementary, A Community Partnership School (SPECPS), has more than 500 students and is a public, title 1 school. KCCI is collaborating with SPECPS to re-purpose underutilized spaces into interactive spaces that promote bicycle learning experiences for children ages 4-11.
The KCCI volunteer Community Catalyst team is continuing to secure funds and in-kind support from the community. If you are interested in financially supporting this project, please contact KCCI Catalyst Patrick O’ Bryant at (850) 559-0298. Naming rights are available for one of the remaining bike park sections for $1,500. In addition, the off-ramps may be sponsored for $500 each. The ramps provide children with a more real-life experience of cycling on alternative surfaces other than roads. More information can be found here.
The KCCI Community Catalysts are creating a bike park with three zones: an educational, creative bike space that resembles real life-situations on a basketball court, an off-road experience, and a covered training area for younger students and for use on rainy or hot days. The SPECPS bike park could ultimately become a model for other schools in Florida as it improves community safety and enhances cycling in Leon County.
The initiative integrates with Sabal Palm’s strategic move of being a community partnership school. This model follows a proven framework that removes barriers to learning – including safety issues, health and mental health challenges, poverty, and more – by bringing together high-quality academics, health care, counseling, support, mentoring and other integral services on-site at the school. SPECPS was identified through community feedback as the school that would most benefit from an educational bike park of this caliber.
“The KCCI Bike Park initiative is a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages,” said Anicia Robinson, Principal at Sabal Palm Elementary. “Biking is a great way to promote physical fitness but learning about bike safety can save lives.”