History & Background

In 1995, the Park Hill Bike Club was established as a 501c3 and was co-sponsored by the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. and Denver Police Department.  The mission of the original club 
was to provide Park Hill youth alternatives to 
gang involvement and substance abuse while providing recreational, educational, and employment opportunities for these neighborhood youth in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect, and diversity.

The original bike shop was located at 2236 Oneida and served as the club’s home base for its bicycle building and repair classes. Members of the club primarily met on the weekends and during the summer for cycling events, races, picnics, and educational outings.  In addition, the young members of the club learned bicycle maintenance skills and bike safety instruction and at the end of each summer youth participants received a bicycle and helmet to take home. 

Due to financial challenges, the Park Hill Bike Club shifted all of its equipment and operations to the Derailer Bicycle Collective in July 2004 which remains open and active in West Denver for the greater cycling community. Patricia Barr-Clarke, a Park Hill resident and member of the Park Hill Bike Depot’s original Steering Committee, played a key role in establishing and managing the Park Hill Bike Club. Her knowledge and direct experience with the Bike Club has been an asset to developing the Park Hill Bike Depot, offering a sense of history and continuity of biking in Park Hill.

Early Beginnings: 2005-2007
Since 2005, residents of Park Hill expressed desires to: have more bicycle clubs and programs to promote active living; establish Park Hill as a bike friendly environment; and develop strategies and policies to increase bicycle use and access. The Park Hill Bike Depot is the “sweet spot,” intersection of programs and environmental and policy changes.  In the fall of 2006, PHTC staff convened a steering committee to build and staff the Bike Depot. Original policy plans to increase bike access were offered by District 5 City Council Representative Marcia Johnson to change Denver’s City Charter to redirect confiscated bikes from auction to community bike cooperatives. However, a relationship established between PHTC and Recycle Bicycles met the overall policy objective and resolved barriers of access and expense. Recycle Bicycles mission is to repair and redistribute used bicycles to “underserved” communities. It receives bikes from college campuses, donation drives, individual donations and Denver’s Regional Transit District (RTD). Recycle Bicycles had hundreds of bikes in storage, but lacked a distribution mechanism, now solved through the Park Hill Bike Depot.

Key Depot Developments: 2005 to 2007

• Summer/fall 2005 PHTC planning process set the stage for developing a bike distribution and maintenance program.
• 
Research conducted in 2006-2007 concluded that establishing a bike maintenance and distribution program at one of the two Parks and Recreation Centers in Park Hill was unrealistic due to space and staffing constraints.
• 
PHTC convened interested residents and partners in March 2007 which evolved into the Bike Depot Steering Committee and met biweekly until January 2009. Steering Committee, staffed by PHTC staff, developed comprehensive long range action plan addressing budget needs/requirements, operations, real estate, staffing, community outreach, programs and evaluation. 
• Established wo year contract with Recycle  Bicycles, a 501c3 in early 2007 to serve as primary source of bicycles and fiduciary agency.
• PHTC represented the Depot at monthly Denver Mayors Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings.
• Bike Depot “unveiling” event occurred in August 2007, generating interest and awareness in the facility nine months before opening.
• 
First temporary bike distribution and maintenance facility established in October 2007, in rented, portable storage units at Davis Rec Center. Storage units were then moved to District Two Police property due to increased crime and gang activity at Holly Square, 
across the street from Davis Rec Center, 
raising concerns about potential theft of 
bikes, tools and parts.
• Bike refurbishing events were first held at 
both temporary locations in 2007 as nine month search for permanent, affordable 
space occurred.
• Bike rack project led to 2007 marketing agreement with Dero Bike Rack Manufacturing, providing ongoing revenue stream for 
Depot operations.
• During 2007, budget was established, shop manager hired and inventory of bikes, parts, supplies and equipment established.
• Established communications campaign including collateral, marketing materials, banners for community outreach and events. Project and events promoted via Greater Park Hill News column; PHTC event calendar and distribution of palm cards. All Steering Committee and MBAC members promote the Depot as more individuals and communities realize the importance of having such facilities. Inquires have been received from Wheatridge, Prowers County, Highlands Neighborhood to mention a few. 
• Secured location and lease at 2825 Fairfax in December 2007.