To my delight both as a North Denver resident and competitive cyclist, I learned this week that the American Cycling Association will be promoting a Curtis Park Criterium on May 28th (Memorial Day) 2007.To fill the void on the racing calendar left when the Rocky Mountain Cycling Omnium moved to later in the racing season, ACA Representative and long-time Colorado racing advocate Beth Wrenn-Estes stepped in to promote this exciting new race.
But what does this mean to non-cyclists, and in particular, Curtis Park, Five Points and Cole Neighborhood residents? First, it is exciting that so many neighborhood kids and families will be exposed to bike racing... right in Curtis Park! Not only that, but the promoters are looking for a way to provide free bike helmets (to keep) for at-need children that participate in the kids races!
It also means a tremendous influx of people (likely 4-600 total) to our redeveloping neighborhoods who normally wouldn't be exposed to all we have to offer right in Denver's backyard. And while I'm clearly biased towards the cycling community, your average cyclist tends to be affluent, well-educated, and committed to a healthy and environmentally-friendly lifestyle--In other words, just the kind of neighbors we need more of in North Denver. And as such, it's an incredible opportunity for positive exposure for our respective neighborhoods.
For years there has been a race in the Golden Triangle (The Bannock Street Criterium), and from what I've heard, many residents and neighborhood advocates felt it was a tremendous asset in showing the rest of Colorado the progress that neighborhood had made during that time. While on a much grander scale, the long-running Philadelphia International Championship (formerly the Corestates U.S. Pro Championship) also played an integral part of the Manayunk neighborhood's rebirth.
Am I dreaming, or over-estimating the effect an amateur bike race could have on our area? Probably, but nothing would please me more than to see this race become a fixture on the Colorado racing calendar, and an annual showcase for North Denver's regenesis.
I've committed to assisting Ms. Wrenn-Estes and the ACA with this event, and welcome any other local residents or businesses that share my excitement to become similarly involved. If this is you, please post a comment and let me know how to reach you, or contact Ms. Wrenn-Estes directly.
I'll have more information on the race, and potential volunteer and sponsorship opportunities soon, so stay tuned.
And as always, thanks for reading, and caring about North Denver neighborhoods like Cole.
