City of Aurora issued the following announcement on July 27.
This week, Mayor Richard Irvin and the City of Aurora launched the City’s latest art initiative. The Bikes in Bloom project features colorful bicycle planters throughout downtown Aurora.
“This is a fun and simple, yet symbolic, way to bring new art and energy to our downtown,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin who proposed the concept after seeing it in another city on the west coast. “Aurora is on a path forward, and we are growing in substantive, beautiful ways. The bikes represent our continuous movement to the next level while the flowers represent the beauty and growth of our city.”
The City of Aurora collaborated with Wayside Ministries for the used bicycles and local businessman Tim Oros who volunteered to paint the bicycles in vibrant colors to reflect the future of Aurora and to recognize many global causes that impact our society.
Interns and seasonal employees worked with staff to install the baskets that double as planters and to anchor the bikes at their respective locations. City horticulturist Cathy Hayen hand-picked and arranged the flowers.
“What an exciting addition to our downtown, “said Hayen. “They are a natural and gorgeous complement to our stunning rain gardens. The bikes really bring new life to each area.”
While more colors and locations will be added in the future, the ten launching sites of the Bikes in Bloom project include:
Benton St. at the Swimming Stones
Broadway between the Central Fire Station and Fire Museum
Downer Pl & Broadway on the southwest corner
Downer Pl. across from City Hall
Downer Pl. at the north riverwalk entrance
Galena Blvd. across street from the Paramount Theatre
Galena Blvd. and Broadway on the northwest corner
LaSalle St. & Downer Pl. at the Downer Lofts
New York St. & River St. at the southeast corner
New York St. just east of the railroad
The Bikes in Bloom project is one of many new beautification initiatives in downtown Aurora. The City recently rehabilitated the historic Water Street Mall adjacent to City Hall with a new foundation, rain gardens and lights displayed the length of the mall. Renovations will soon be underway for the neighboring Mundy Park.
The public is encouraged to visit the bike locations and share photographs on social media with the hashtags #BikesinBloom or #AuroraBikes.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Aurora
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