Rack ‘Em Up: Merrill Denney, founder of Creative Metalworks LLC, stands among his handiwork bound for Carson City.
Getting out of the house can be tricky these days, but nonetheless you may have noticed some colorful and eye-catching sidewalk additions to Carson City’s downtown.
The custom bike rack project started in late 2015 and was the brainchild of Muscle Powered member Janice Keillor, according to longtime fellow member Jeff Potter. Kelly Clark, Muscle Powered’s president at the time, and fellow member Chas Macquarie were the primary influences for selecting an initial 50 rack locations within the downtown area during the Downtown Curry Streetscape Project. Later, Muscle Powered, Carson City Public Works, the Carson City Visitor and Tourism Authority (CTA), and consulting firm Lumos & Associates worked within those selections to choose installation sites, Potter explained.
“This was a very long project that took a lot of people to pull off,” said Potter, who was a force behind getting sponsors for the set of 20 racks. “There were a lot of chance(s) for this to fail, but some very good people made it happen.”
After raising $15,000, Muscle Powered formed a partnership with CTA, who matched the funds (which was “amazing,” said Potter). This gave room for the nonprofit to hire Creative Metalworks LLC, a Dayton, Ore. shop with public installations throughout the West Coast, to “work their magic.” Potter first encountered their designs while on a trip to Portland with his wife. The custom racks both enhance community livability and deter bike theft, according to Creative Metalworks founder and owner Merrill Denney.
Each of the new racks along the downtown corridor is accompanied by a dedication plaque from its sponsor. Dan Stucky, city engineer for Carson City who was integral to the installation, said, “It’s been a couple years working with Muscle Powered, and I’m glad this project has come to fruition. Some of the racks are pretty cool…I think people will like them.”
Special thanks go to City Manager Nancy Paulson, City Engineer Dan Stucky, and the following sponsors:
John Copoulos, The Family of Louis R. Doescher, Esq., Pat Dory-Schupback, Mike Drews, David and Kelly Fluitt, Dr. Edward Gray, Carson Valley Oral Surgery, The Heckler Family, Tim and Sandy Koch, The Family of Eric Kvam, Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital, Lumos & Associates, The Maples Family, J.P. and Katie McFarren, Ormsby Heights Residential Care, The Pintar Kop Family, Diane and Allen Schnaser, Soroptimist International of Carson City, Carter and Peggy Twedt, Vidler Water Company, and The Wilson/Bonkowski Family.