Downtown kids get bikes (8 photos)

Several families received new bicycles at the Esposito Park pump track 'Summer Kickoff' on Saturday, as part of a city-run program to help disadvantaged families.

The program put a call out ot the community to donate bikes and after collecting about 52 of them gave them out to a list of roughly 30 youth made up of downtown families and new refugees.

“In the downtown core there are some families that don’t have the ability to go out and purchase new bikes, so,...it's making sure they have the ability to enjoy this wonderful pump track they have near them,” said Virginia McLeod, city manager of recreation and culture.

McLeod said the pump track and the bikes are all part of a city initiative to improve life downtown.

Chantel Combs who, who lives downtown on Albert Street West, is glad to see changes being made to her neighbourhood.

“There’s been a lot of…um …different kinds of people around here,” said Combs, a single mother of two that moved downtown last year.

“…strange (people),” piped in her daughter Elizabeth, 9, who’s clearly talked to her mom about this issue before.

“Yeah, like weird people who follow her in a car and ask her to take a ride,” said her son Andrew, obviously aware of a specific incident.

“It’s nicer to see children and families coming back down here making it a little bit more comfortable,” continued Combs, directly referring to Saturday's event.

“(It's more) peaceful,” said her son.

“…community like,” said Combs.

Because Combs is unemployed and on a limited income, her son and daughter have been without suitable bikes for the past two years.

Combs said living downtown hasn't necessarily been the greatest experience.

She has to warn her kids of finding 'strange things' — like needles — on the ground and her son was using the park one day last year when a gang of kids “tried to pound my head into the ground," he said.

Combs said the increased focus on improving the downtown — some of noticeable improvements being the Gore Street construction, the pump track, and the orchard at Etienne Brule school — has started to make her feel safer and more comfortable in the area.

“Between drugs and things like that, downtown has not been known for its communities and families. It’ been nice to see more community and family events that are closer to us — where it’s not taking a bus or getting a ride across town — we can just walk here,” said Combs.

“When I heard they were going to be fixing up downtown areas I was happy. It’s nice to know as a parent that I can go somewhere and play for a bit and I know that I don’t have to be right there and that ...there is other families,” said Comb, referring to the more community-like feel that the pump track has compared to other parts of downtown.

McLeod said that the pump track’s location was chosen specifically because it was easily accessed by downtown families and is part of a larger-scale effort by the city to promote the downtown.

“City Council’s Best for Kids Committee really looks at supporting youth in our city, especially areas really identified as high need. We want to make sure we are supporting those families in those areas so they have opportunities for recreation — to get out and enjoy and lead a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

McLeod said that Rotary North will be setting up a public self-repair bike station at the track and that they will be holding free bike repair workshops throughout the summer.

The bike program was organized by the city of Sault Ste. Marie’s Best For Kids Committee, the Sault Ste. Marie Conservation Authority, the Sault Cycling Club, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, and Sault Ste. Marie and District Social Services.

Funds for the purchase of new bikes and Equipment came from The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie North and the Uniter Steelworkers Union Local 9548, 2724, and 2751.

Combs’ ‘shy and silly’ daughter Elizabeth was asked to comment  about how she felt about the pump track and getting a new bike.

All she would say is “my name is Elizabeth from Holy Cross school and I love my friends,” and “yay!”