Bike riders of all ages and abilities are invited join the Earthworks Tour Inaugural Ride in June.

The Earthworks Tour is a new bicycle route which connects four iconic landscapes in the Green River Valley that are all internationally recognized, but not well known locally. Three were designed by artists and the fourth is a nature preserve. They are the Herbert Bayer Earthwork, the Robert Morris Earthwork, Lorna Jordan’s Waterworks Gardens and the Green River Natural Resources Area.

The half-day ride starts at 9 a.m. at the Herbert Bayer Earthworks Park, 42 E. Titus St., Kent. Riders may register for the free event at KentArts.org/earthworks.

The Earthworks Tour provides options of easy, intermediate and advanced riders. The Easy Ride, recommended for families, is a mostly flat, 8-mile loop with a short incline at the start and finish. The Intermediate loop is 20 miles long and also mostly flat. The Advanced Ride includes a steep hill climb that adds 3 miles. All of the roadways and trails along the tour are paved.

Bicyclists should plan to dismount and walk through each earthwork and bike racks will be provided. Bicyclists can connect to the Earthworks Tour via the nearby Interurban Trail, by transit at Kent Station or drive to the starting point at the Herbert Bayer Earthworks Park, 742 E. Titus St. Free overflow parking will be available across the street at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.

Co-produced by Cascade Bicycle Club, the family-friendly event will include art installations, art activities and artist designed prototypes. The artist Johnnie Olivan will join the ride with the Family Bus Bike, which seats three adults and two small children. Other temporary artists’ projects will be announced later this spring.

As part of the Inaugural Ride celebration, the permanent environmental art installation Filaments by The Inkwell Collective will open. The Earthworks Tour will be a permanent bicycle route open to the public for self-guided rides.

 

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