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Bike tour to highlight history of Wilmington's public water system

A bike tour around the city of Wilmington Saturday will explore the history of the city’s public water system.

It’s called Creek to Tap – and will highlight several historic water sites – like the Rockford Tower – along a 10-mile 3-hour loop around the city.

 

The Urban Bike Project will lead the tour Saturday afternoon.

 

Urban Bike Project's Executive Director Laura Wilburn says even her shop’s building has a story to tell.  It stored public works service vehicles and even fire engines at one time – back when they were powered by horses.

 

“So it’s kind of a unique property in that way – and we like being there," Wilburn said. "It’s kind of neat to me that continuum of transportation. Like horses, and now we have bicycles. So it kind of makes a fun start and stop to the rides as well.”

 

The tour is based on a book; Debbie Martin - Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Planner - helped put together the Creek to Tap book about the history of the city’s public water system following two recent improvements to Wilmington’s water system.

Credit Debbie Martin / City of Wilmington
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City of Wilmington
This raceway was recently updated - lined with concrete - and will be featured on Saturday's bike tour.

Martin says May is the perfect time to highlight it.

 

“Because May brings together so many things – besides Bike Month, it’s Archeology Month, it’s Historic Preservation Month…later in the month it’s Public Works Week...," Martin said.

 

The tour is free to the public – but registration is required online by the end of the day Friday.

Leah Kacanda is with Bike Wilmington, and says infrastructure for cyclists to use in the city remains a work in progress.

 

“Those projects take some time and in the meantime, we can do things like bike rides to help get folks familiar with the idea, get people used to thinking about biking as a mode of transportation," Kacanda said.

 

Kacanda hopes to host similar themed rides in the near future. She’s currently working on two – one focusing on the city’s community gardens and another on the city’s park system.

 

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