Tallahassee's Sabal Palm Elementary School has opened the second of a 3-phase bicycle park for the area's kids. The courses are intended as a much safer alternative to street-riding in that congested neighborhood.
The former basketball court behind the school was repaved and now resembles a miniature town with streets, destinations, stop signs and even a vehicular roundabout. The district's School Board Member Darryl Jones applauded the Knight Creative Communities Institute - KCCI - whose community catalysts drove the project.
"We are grateful for KCCI seeing our District 3 and Sabal Palm, our community school, for engagement from across our community," he remarked.
And Sabal Palm Principal Anicia Robinson saw the 3 bike courses as a school and neighborhood resource.
"Our kids will get a chance to ride year-round instead of just a couple of weeks during the bicycle units. We have wonderful donations of bicycles that are here."
They also provide much safer places for the kids to ride them than the heavily-trafficked streets. The latest course is for children in the middle-elementary grades. A smaller and simpler course for kindergarten through second graders was opened back in March. There is also a course that replicates a cross-country riding experience.
