It’s a sculpture, it’s flowers….no it’s a bike rack
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The bike rack of metallic flowers located on Willson Avenue has finally been discovered and used the way it was originally intended.
The rack, designed by Tim Adams, is located just off 2nd street on Willson Avenue. It was a joint project between the City of Webster City, Arts R Alive and the SSMID district. Some of the funds came from a Hotel/Motel tax grant.
"It took awhile, but now it is getting used," said Janet Adams, "We are excited to see it being used."
Last winter, they tried giving away socks that were attached to the sculpture that doubles as a rack to secure bicycles. "Some people have talked about putting stocking caps on the rack this year," Adams said.
The purpose of the socks and potential stocking caps was to draw attention to the rack, in addition to providing something for free for those in need.
Adams said the city was getting concerned because bikes were being tossed around the trees and lightpoles. Kevin Rubash, owner of Interior Spaces located in the downtown, and Adams talked about it for quite awhile.
"We wanted something that would be attractive, and then the location was an issue," she explained. "So we moved it down the street.
The bicycle rack has been in place less than two years, and they had hoped they might have interest in putting up additional racks in the downtown area.
"We are hoping some of the buildings will get fixed up before we do much more with sculptures downtown," she said. The bike rack is a permanent installation, unlike the rotating sculptures located both in the west Twin Parks area, and in other downtown locations. And the bike rack is meant to be used.
"I think with the gas prices, that people will think about the bicycles more than they used to," she said, "People who we give tours notice it when we do the sculpture walk, and when we talk about the mural," she explained.
"Then they have questions," she said.
The bicycle rack has added both fun and function to the area where there are a good number of apartments occupied. Prior to the rack, residents would take their bicycles up to their apartments.
"We know the people who ride bicycles are glad it's there," she said.