The community of Great Neck is gearing up for a wild ride on May 15, when the Mayor Allan Gussack Memorial Great Neck Bicycle Challenge takes place in the Village of Great Neck Plaza.

This year the race will have an exciting new dimension. The sponsors will highlight local Great Neck businesses in a "Welcome to Great Neck" flier, to be distributed to every spectator who attends the event. Several businesses, like the Dutchess of Great Neck, Cashmere Outlet, Cuttermill Mailroom, Postur-Line Children's Shoes, and Bodian Dermatology & Medical Day Spa, have already signed up to participate in this free marketing opportunity by offering discounts to shoppers on the day of the race.

One of the components of a healthy, smart community is a vibrant downtown. According to Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender, "We are delighted to have Great Neck featured as a model of Smart Growth at the Great Neck Bicycle Challenge. We've made improvements to the downtown to support unique shops, recreational space and interesting events to enhance the quality of life of Long Island."

Sustainable Long Island and Community Housing Innovations --- both nonprofit organizations --- have teamed up to demonstrate how Great Neck used Smart Growth principles to develop its downtown into a vibrant, walkable community of interesting shops, open space and attractions. The event includes free admission, parking, and a live jazz/reggae concert.

Sarah Lansdale, executive director of Sustainable Long Island, said the Great Neck Bicycle Challenge "will help educate Long Islanders on how a revitalized downtown can make a big difference to a community, enhancing its cultural, environmental and retail life." Sustainable Long Island will have information on downtown revitalization available at the event.

According to Alexander Roberts, executive director of Community Housing Innovations, "What better way to highlight smart growth than a bike race in the downtown? Great Neck has revitalized its downtown, bringing diversity and economic health by allowing affordable housing, while preserving open space and the character of its neighborhoods."

A recent study by the Brookings Institution noted a renaissance of downtowns across America based on 12 principles of smart growth. Among them are providing density --- i.e., people --- in the downtown, as well as walkable design --- meaning lots of retail stores that open to the street, nearby entertainment and restaurants, and flexible building codes that allow for density and maximize open space.

As the report states, "More activity attracts more people which increase rents and property values creating more business opportunity which means more activity and people on the street, and so on. Simply put, in a viable downtown, more is better."

Great Neck has taken many steps in that direction under Mayor Celender, herself a city planner. Great Neck has a range of housing opportunities, a walkable community, an array of businesses, redeveloped abandoned properties, and safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists.

The event, which begins at 10 a.m. and includes races for juniors, men, and women, has been designated a Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series event. From 9 to 10 a.m there will be free bicycle safety inspections for the public, courtesy of North Shore Cycles of Great Neck. There will also be a free live jazz/reggae concert by the group, Sterling, at approximately 3 p.m., following the race.

There will also be a free autograph session with three-time Olympian Jack Simes III at 9 a.m.

The event will be free to spectators, who can watch the race while enjoying a day at Jonathan Ielpi Firefighter's Park, formerly known as Grace Avenue Park. The course circles the park, which is in the heart of Great Neck Plaza. The park is nearby local stores, which will have special discounts and free food. North Shore Cycles will be offering free bike-safety check-ups at 9 a.m.

Besides Sustainable Long Island and Community Housing Innovations, other major sponsors of the event include the Village of Great Neck Plaza, Iron Horse Bicycles, United Capital Corporation, The Inn at Great Neck, North Bay Cadillac, Jobco, Anton Community Newspapers, and Spielberger, Dampf, Brill and Levine LLC.

For more information, contact Race Organizer David Speedy Emanuel at speedyemanuel@aol.com.