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Have you noticed the new bike racks along State Beach? They’re made from recycled plastics, and part of a sustainability effort led by Friends of Sengekontacket in partnership with Chick Stapleton and her team at Island Spirit Kayak.
“It was a thrilling project to undertake,” Chick told us recently.
The old steel racks didn’t hold up well in the salty beach environment. They corroded quickly, breaking down into shards that scattered on the sand. For years, Island Spirit Kayak has worked with Friends of Sengekontacket to place and remove the racks each season, and to patch them up when possible.
“Each year, we have had to repair them using rust reformer and rustoleum paint, which are both harsh materials and part of a challenging process, especially when the repairs were unsuccessful,” Chick says.
With a lifespan of just two years, the steel racks weren’t a long-term replacement. The new, more durable racks were purchased from Park Warehouse and fully funded by Friends of Sengekontacket. This year, teams from both organizations installed six of them, and they’re already planning to add more next year.
