Whittier Tech Students Combine Talents to Design, Create Bike Racks for City of Amesbury

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to share that students in several Whittier Tech pathways combined their talents to design and construct metal bike racks for the City of Amesbury, beautifying important outdoor spaces, improving bicycle accessibility, and celebrating the City’s industrial heritage.

Students in the Metal Fabrication/Welding, Advanced Manufacturing, and CAD Drafting disciplines created six racks that recognize the City’s industrial roots. The project was a partnership with the City of Amesbury, which received a Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets & Spaces grant of $38,316 to reinvigorate the Al Capp Amphitheater and Upper Millyard.

Tommy Reynoso, Liam Dunphy, Yenice Alejandro Lopez, and Aubrey Pader, CAD Drafting students in the Class of 2021, researched the history of the City. They learned that the City had a vibrant industrial past that predated the Industrial Revolution, with the Powow River allowing mill and factory owners to use water wheels to power their businesses.

The students, inspired by other bicycle rack designs, tweaked the water wheel design in group sessions. Whittier Tech teachers provided critical input and direction on improving the original concept.

Designs were then submitted to the City for review and approval.

CAD students worked with Metal Fabrication/Welding students to adjust the design for manufacturability. Students used a new CNC plasma cutting table to create rack parts, which were welded together, cleaned, and dulled to remove sharp edges.

Instructors from CAD and Metal Fabrication/Welding worked with SMI Powdercoating of Amesbury to have the completed bike racks painted and prepared for the outdoors.

Three students in the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program, Jack Lancaster, Vincent St. Pierre, and Reece Jezowski, wrote a CNC program to machine stainless steel plaques to be mounted on the water wheels.

“I am always impressed by the work our students create, and the care that our instructors have for each project,” Superintendent Lynch said. “The instructors and students involved can take great pride at the craftsmanship and collaboration in creating such beautiful work.”

“Throughout the pandemic we saw more people working from home, and many have continued to do so. More of our residents are walking, cycling and spending time in our community spaces,” said Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, who met with Whittier students and faculty to see the new racks. “I’m thrilled that we were able to partner with students at Whittier Tech to make these custom bicycle racks, which are beautiful and help us work toward our goal of facilitating and promoting alternative and eco-friendly transportation options in Amesbury. In addition to the other improvements we made through the Shared Streets and Spaces grant, these bicycle racks are helping us create a community that aligns with our vision for mobility and helping people more easily move around our City.”

The city used the grant to adapt the amphitheater, creating a COVID-19-friendly outdoor area for eating, playing, and working that is accessible to everyone. Other additions include a solar charging station, a Wi-Fi installation, bistro table, and fireplace.