The Bike Across Kansas Event is on this year, after being cancelled the past two years. Ottawa is once again a host city for an overnight stay on June 17th. Bringing up to 800 cyclists and their support teams to Ottawa takes major planning. USD 290 and the City of Ottawa have already partnered with the Ottawa Chamber in helping make plans. Participants for the most part, will stay at Ottawa High School, using the 2 gyms for sleeping or tents outside for camping. Some, however, will use hotel rooms and yet others will have a support team with campers or RVs. The Chamber has already scheduled Travis Marvin for a concert on the evening of June 17th and plans for some food trucks to be at the event.
Several local organizations have already reached out. USD 290 will provide bus shuttles from the high school to downtown; Bad Astra, the 100 mile gravel road race around Franklin County, has volunteered to help with bike repairs and have a station set up at Legacy Square. Historical Society Director, Diana Staresinic-Deane has offered to keep the Old Depot Museum open into the evening. ORC Director, Levi Meyer, has volunteered ORC to help or plan activities in the Downtown area and FCCLA student group at Ottawa High School is making plans to provide breakfast Saturday morning, June 18, before the riders head out to Louisburg. More events and plans will be announced soon.
