PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has awarded violence prevention grants to three community bike programs, with Bartram’s Garden receiving $30,000, Neighborhood Bike Works getting $20,000 and Philly Pumptrack awarded $10,000.
Philly Pumptrack board member Derrick Howie said the extra funds allow for the purchase of more bikes and helmets, empowering kids to stay off the streets.
“You’re not hearing numbers of killings and shootings in the park, especially here on this little strip on Parkside Avenue. When groups come out here, they enjoy it and we’re a big part of that,” Howie said Monday by their location on the west side of Fairmount Park.
“Basically, we’re giving them an alternative to just hanging around on the streets, and keeping them out of danger. I’m going to say that the park is the safest place in the city right now.” Howie added.
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Mike Plasha, a man perhaps more well known as “Hoodrichbikelife,” has been with the track for over 5 years.
“It’s just a safe place for the kids to come every day and just relax,” Plasha said. “You don’t have to worry about anything. Take your mind off and switch it up for most of the kids who ride the street.”
The Philly Pumptrack plans to expand its pilot BikeLife program. BikeLife's mission is to specifically engage community youth who have been exposed to violence by helping to improve their health and wellness, provide mentorship opportunities, and develop career-building skills.
Neighborhood Bike Works Executive Director Jessi West said their $20,000 grant will allow them to serve more youth.
“Spring and summer are our busiest times. We do have programming year-round, but that’s when we have the most staffing needs. This will allow us to bring on a couple more part-time instructors so that we can serve more sections of kids,” said West.
Neighborhood Bike Works' Youth Bike Education & Empowerment Program has been engaging Philadelphia youth who are 8 to 18 years old for two decades with a wide range of education, recreation, leadership, and career-building opportunities.
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It offers bicycle riding and mechanic workshops that strive to teach youth healthy habits, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and leadership skills that can often lead to academic and professional successes.
Bartram's Garden was the recipient of a $30,000 grant. It provides free youth bike programming in Southwest Philadelphia throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months.
Their programming includes bicycle repair workshops, free rentals, group rides, and more.
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Bartram’s Garden Director of Development & Communications Caroline Winschel said they have a section of the Schuylkill River Trail that runs right through the garden, and it was recently extended.
“One-and-a-half miles of trail in Southwest Philadelphia,” she said. “It’s paved, away from the road, goes through the garden and along the river. It’s a really lovely place to ride away from cars.”
Since May 2021, the District Attorney’s Office has awarded over $700,000 in violence prevention funding to local nonprofit organizations.
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"Simply put, programs like these are part of the solution to saving the lives of our city's youth and improving public safety in the long term," said District Attorney Larry Krasner.
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