Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (center left) and former Mayor Chris Beutler get ready to cut the ribbon to the new Lincoln Bike Kitchen at the old Municipal Pool building near 21st and "N" Street. Helping with the ribbon cutting are Lincoln City Council member Sändra Washington (left), Lincoln Bike Kitchen board member Clayton Streich and Lincoln Bike Kitchen executive director Shari Shanks (right). (Jeff Motz/KFOR News)LINCOLN–(News Release Oct. 10)–The Lincoln Bike Kitchen (LBK), a nonprofit that has refurbished bicycles for the community since 2012, today celebrated its relocation to the Telegraph District with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new home in the former Municipal Pool Building, 308 S. 21st St. “We’re excited to begin this new chapter in the heart of Lincoln and celebrate the continued growth of Lincoln Bike Kitchen,” said Shari Shanks, Executive Director of Lincoln Bike Kitchen. “This new space will allow us to better serve our mission of transforming lives by making cycling accessible to all, and we look forward to increasing our impact in the community.” Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird officiated the event and helped LBK celebrate completion of a $500,000 capital campaign and move to the larger location. Community members toured the new space and LBK founder, Pepe Fierro, sold vegetarian burritos during the lunchtime celebration. “The Lincoln Bike Kitchen enhances our community’s quality of life by making cycling accessible to everyone,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “Our City team is thrilled to welcome them to our Muny building where they can continue their important work.” Shanks said the former pool building is an ideal home for the Lincoln Bike Kitchen because it doubles the group’s space to 4,400-square-feet and is conveniently located near the Billy Wolff Trail. It also offers amenities not available at the previous location. “We’ve operated in a space without heating and air conditioning for over a decade,” Shanks said. “Our new home will be much more comfortable for volunteers as they spend long hours on their feet repairing bikes.” The old Municipal Pool Building near 21st and “N” Street that’s now the new home of the Lincoln Bike Kitchen. (Jeff Motz/KFOR News) Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross said the move culminates years of work by the City to find an appropriate use for the building that met federal and local requirements for the property. Built in the 1920s, the former bathhouse served the Municipal Pool, which operated in Lincoln until the early 1970s. The building is designated as a local Historic Landmark and has most recently been used as office space. The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Advisory Board approved the relocation plan in August 2023. The Historic Preservation Commission also reviewed the plan and approved improvements to the Muny Building’s exterior, addition of a storage building, and new signs. Pursuant to an agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Bike Kitchen will provide at least 250 bikes annually throughout the community. Stuckey-Ross said the pool building’s new tenants are a perfect fit for the space and the cycling public. “Lincoln Parks and Recreation is thrilled to have Bike Kitchen move into the Muny Building,” said Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross. “The work of Bike Kitchen helps transform lives – and uplifts our entire community. We look forward to many more years of partnership and congratulate Bike Kitchen on this milestone.” The Lincoln Bike Kitchen is a community-building organization that provides bicycles and related resources to all people. They advocate for utilitarian bicycling as a vital part of a healthy, equitable and sustainable community. Lincoln Bike Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more about LBK at LincolnBikeKitchen.org.