Kids Get Wheels At Kensington Playground

Winter Carter, 5, received a new bike on Saturday morning — and jumped for joy.

She was one of the 13 children who took bike and safety lessons and received refurbished bikes at the latest event to build public support for saving Kenginston Playground from becoming the site of new housing.

Friends of Kensington Playground collaborated for the event with Upon this Rock Ministries, which donated three bicycles, and Bike for Kids CT. which donated ten. The Devil’s Gear Bike Shop helped refurbish the bikes for free.

Each child was given the opportunity to choose a bike that accommodated to their height. This event was some of the kids’ first time receiving a bike. Previous riders were rusty from years of not having where.

Paul Hammer, a League of American Bicyclists instructor, gave a group lesson on bike safety. Then he assisted each child personally based on their level of skills.

Carter lives with her brother, 10 year-old Amari Watson, who has experience riding bicycles. The siblings attended an Easter event held two weeks ago at the playground, which is on the block of Kensington Street between Chapel and Edgewood. A citizens group is in court fighting the city-approved sale of the space to an affordable-housing builder. (Click here to read about the previous event and the background on efforts to safe the playground.)

Hammer demonstrated to Watson how to check for cars while bicycling and how to signal.

“You’re going to take one hand off the bike handle and turn to see if any cars are coming. If you kept both of your hands on the handlebar, you would only be able to see a little bit. Not too much,” Hammer said. ​“But take your hand back off and keep pedaling. You don’t see any cars — OK, it’s all clear. Then you take your hand to signal which direction you’re going.”

“This isn’t my first time riding,” Watson said, after he made a successful attempt in signaling. ​“I haven’t had a bike in awhile.”

Hammer noted that it’s illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. He said that bicycles are legally regarded as vehicles and told people that they must obey all traffic lights and signs.

“This is the only open space in the neighborhood,” Hammer added. ​“It should be protected. There’s plenty of other places to build affordable housing. My role here today is to support the park but also to make sure that everyone who wants a bike can have a bike.”

Jane Comins, one of the organizers of Friends of Kensington Playground, said that her heart was bursting knowing that all of the bikes were donated by community partners for free.

“This event is important because people need to be aware that the park is about to be sold. It’s been approved to be sold for a dollar so that they can build a 15=unit apartment building,” Comins said. ​“Perhaps, even more it’s important to get people out into the park to enjoy it. To be a part of the community that we all live in.”

Children 15 years old and under are required to wear helmets. Each kid at the event was given one. According to the bicycle instructors, the helmet should be checked if it’s tight enough by taking two fingers and pushing on the front of the helmet to make sure it doesn’t slide back. Yaniel Arena, 9, was fitted with a helmet by bicycle repairman Joel LaChance.

Yaniel’s mother, Denise Mercado, said that the event was beneficial for her child’s overall well-being.

“I feel like it’s good for the kids, because most of the time they’re spending time inside,” Mercado said. ​“I feel sad that the park might be shutting down because the kids need a space to play.”

Hammer placed a yellow cone in the middle of the splash pad to represent an obstacle of a rock or pothole. Hammer told the children to imagine that they don’t see the obstacle until the last minute. The idea was to swing the handle bars back and forth swiftly in order to swerve around the obstacle.

Kendell Williamson, 11, has been riding bikes since he was 4 years old. He navigated the obstacle with ease.

His mother, Shirley Williams, said that the playground space should be further developed rather than destroyed.

“Kids should be able to ride their bike, play kickball, and play hopscotch,” Williams said. ​“When you look around, there should be more than this in the park. There’s no swings or any slides. Other neighborhoods are fully equipped.”

David Pena, 7, and his mother Veronica Sanchez have lived onKensington Street for five years. Pena had never ridden a bicycle before.

“He’s a little nervous now,” Sanchez said. ​“But I know that he’s going to be good in no time.”

Anton Lee, 8, and his mother Takenya practiced cycling in the park for the first time. The family lives directly next door to the park.

“I think these events make people come outside and it gets the neighborhood together,” Takenya said. ​“It’s nice that he can practice biking on the path right here in the park.”

“I like that I can skateboard here too,” Lee said.

“Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling!” Takenya said, cheering on Anton as he cycled.

Thirty signatures were added to a petition to save Kensington Playground. Ten kids from the event signed up to participate next week for the Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride at Edgewood Park.

Organizer Pat Wallace said their team of volunteers is passionate about making the community vibrant and a place where kids know their neighbors.

“This builds community. This is what people do in parks,” Wallace said. ​“If we want to make this neighborhood a great, positive place for kids to grow up, then we need to have things for them to do. Riding a bike is a great thing to do.”