Community Initiatives

Orange County’s First Bicycle Garden, Horizons‐on‐the‐Hudson Elementary School Newburgh NY

On Monday June 5, 2023, Orange County would proudly unveil its first Bicycle Garden, a colorful series of miniature streets that allow children to learn the rules of the road in a new and exciting way. Located in Newburgh, NY, an area where 30% of its residents do not have access to a car, this experience would allow the youngest generation to get a head start in riding along roundabouts, crosswalks and intersections using bicycles.

This idea began in 2020 while drafting the Bicycle Action Plan, which surveyed the public’s top places and routes for creating a bicycle network in Newburgh. From here, the idea for a bicycle garden to raise confidence in navigating signs and streets was born. The project team worked with school officials, including then‐principal Rob Glowacki and Assistant Principal Karriem Rahaman‐Bunce to reimagine an unused parking lot near the gymnasium to design and install a bicycle garden. 

With the help of artists Ed Manner and appearance Trevor Cortes‐Lozado, and local engineering firm Creighton Manning, this unused parking lot would transform into a colorful and interactive streetscape for the students of Horizons‐on‐the‐ Hudson. Creighton Manning provided the important base components as displayed on the left, and Ed and Trevor included the colorful and engaging additions. Adjacent to the bike garden are posters that outline the basics of bicycle safety, designed by graphic designer Hael V. Stewart‐Fisher. Currently, this Bike Garden is reserved for HOH students, but public access may be available during scheduled events. 

This project is part of a public health initiative called Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), a five‐year grant effort to reduce risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases in high need communities In Orange County. In a largely car‐dependent society, it is important to raise awareness of healthier transportation options, such as bicycling and walking. Orange County is one of many areas around the world that is developing Complete Streets, which are streets that are accessible to all users, not just automobiles. 

Gillian Matos, Principal of Horizons‐on‐the‐Hudson School remarked: “Challenging and Creative play, contribute to children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. The Bicycle Garden is a safe learning and play space that will help HOH students move better and safer within the city and engage in active transportation, as well as encourage healthy behavior and allow for improved access to the amenities of their community.”