Going to one of the parks in Williamsburg may earn one lucky resident a set of wheels this spring.
That is, two wheels and pedals.
For the second year in a row, the city is celebrating National Bike Month with the Bike the Burg event. During the month of May, starting on May 3, staff from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will be hiding keys all over the parks.
And one key will earn a lucky scavenger a brand new bike donated by Bikes Unlimited in Williamsburg.
“We wanted to do something different and get kids outside,” said Colleen Wilson, program specialist with Parks and Recreation.
Bikes Unlimited is owned by Barry Herneisey, who Wilson said is passionate about getting children outside and biking.
Throughout the month, the donated bike will be in the lobby of the Quarterpath Recreation Center where guests can bring their found keys to see if they open the bike lock and win.
Only residents ages 12 and younger are allowed to win the bike. However, if someone wins and the donated bike does not fit them, they can choose a different size.
If a child comes in to test the key and doesn’t win, they will receive a water bottle courtesy of the department. Only one key can be tried by a child at a time.
Wilson said staff will be placing keys throughout the parks sporadically everyday up to 35 keys. The keys will be hidden in various places throughout the parks with tags attached to them that make them easier to spot.
During the first year of the program, the winning key was found within the first 11 days but Wilson said there is no telling how long it will take to find this year.
Keys will be hidden in the following parks:
- Waller Mill Park
- Kiwanis Park
- Quarterpath Park
- College Landing Park
- Bicentennial Park
- Redoubt Park
- Strawberry Plains
- Geddy Park
- Highland Park
- Wales Park
Before a child can try to open the bike lock, parents must sign a waiver, according to a news release from the city.
Wilson said she hopes the program will encourage children and residents not only to ride their bikes more often, but to ride them in the city’s parks.
“We want to get them off of video games, just get them outside,” Wilson said. “That’s always our goal.”
