PORT CLINTON ― In its third year with the Park District of Ottawa County, Bike Safety Day has a new name and growing support.
What's now called Bike Safety Camp has increased backing from the community and for the campers.
Bike Safety Camp will take place July 31 at Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park.
The camp funding has increased to $3,000, up from $2,500 a year ago. Parks Director Jannah Wilson said the bulk of that funding will again go toward bikes for a dozen campers, and all campers will get helmets, a bicycle bell and lunch.
“We received $3,000 from the Ottawa County Community Foundation for the needed bikes for our participants,” Wilson said. “We have around 44 students registered, and we had 12 that indicated a need, where their caregiver indicated that they did not have a bike that could be brought to the program or have one available, so that money will go directly to those bikes that are needed.”
The other items are separately funded and purchased by the park district through their programming funds.
The camp offers morning and afternoon sessions. While registration is closed, there are still some open afternoon spots for kids who already have bikes. Camp is open to children ages 7 to 12. Call the park district at 419-707-4051 to reserve one of the remaining spaces.
The camp is a partnership with Friends of Ottawa County Parks, the Ottawa County Health Department, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Bassett's Market and Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park.
The bike maintenance component of the program bought tools last year. They don’t need to make that purchase again, so this year they are able to give bicycles to some students.
“They will learn how to change a flat tire, learn how to fix their chains, and adjust their seats,” Wilson said. “They will also learn hand signals, rules of the road, how to stay safe as they are riding alongside vehicle traffic, then they will go work with the Health Department to learn about nutrition and learn a healthy lifestyle, with healthy foods to eat for physical activity and stay hydrated. … Then at the end, we will take a ride through the park.”
Twice as many kids should be taking part in the one-day event. The goal is 60 this year.
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“We can take about 15 more participants for the afternoon block, if they can bring their own bike, because we already put in the order for the bikes. We’re not able to get any more for the participants who cannot get a bike. If it really was an issue, we would try to figure it out. If someone contacted us, and they didn’t have a bike, we would try to trouble-shoot that as best as possible.”
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