On “Giving Tuesday,” November 28, 50 City of Wheat Ridge staff and other volunteers worked with fifth graders at Stevens Elementary School to build 76 bikes for the second-grade class at the school.
The bike build was coordinated and facilitated by Wish for Wheels, a Denver-based non-profit that works nationally to pair teams and funding with schools to build bikes for second graders.
“We are thrilled to know that the entire second-grade class at Stevens Elementary School will have bicycles that they can ride to the upcoming Green at 38th park and throughout the Wheat Ridge community. It's a small step with a big impact, fostering a sense of freedom, adventure, and healthy living in the hearts of our youngest community members,” said Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Director Karen O’Donnell at the event.
Wish for Wheels works with second graders specifically for several reasons, it’s the appropriate developmental stage to lea
rn to ride a two-wheel bike, they may already be riding around their neighborhood or to school, and the 20” bike size will fit them for at least three years.
The Architerra Group, ECI Site Construction Management, and Lutheran Medical Center, now part of Intermountain Health, generously covered the bulk of the bike build expenses. Each organization also had staff helping with the bike build. City Councilmembers Scott Ohm (District 2), Rachel Hultin (District 2), and Korey Stites (District 3, Mayor Pro Tem) also contributed outreach funds towards the project.
The Architerra Group and ECI Site Construction are working on the “Green at 38th” project, where the bike building event was held. The Green at 38th will be breaking ground in June 2024 to build a new park and event space between 38th Avenue and Stevens Elementary. This project began visioning and planning in 2018 with the vision statement: “Create a flexible and safe gathering space that can be used for community events, concerts, and festivals while also providing a physical buffer and separation from the school space.” 
More about the Green at 38th project.
About the City of Wheat Ridge
The City of Wheat Ridge offers a mix of retail/commercial businesses and unique residential neighborhoods with easy access to the Denver metropolitan area. The community of nine square miles is located immediately west of Denver with a population of 33,000 residents. This home rule city was incorporated in 1969, however, its rich heritage extends back to the 1800s.