GEORGE MERRICK FOUNDATION SPECIAL EVENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HISTORIC CORAL GABLES BICYCLE TOUR RETURNS

Benefitting the Merrick Monument Project

Coral Gables, Florida: The Saturday morning kick-off event for the Merrick Festival, a guided tour of historic Coral Gables by bicycle, returns for the fourth time on June 1, 2002. This 10-mile, two hour, guided tour begins at Coral Gables City Hall, promptly at 8:30 a.m., and follows a path through the City that demonstrates the humor and foresight of the City's visionary founder, George Merrick.

Led by noted local historian, Dr. Paul George, the tour begins at City hall and winds a leisurely path through the tree-lined streets of the City Beautiful. It focuses on the City's many historic landmarks such as Venetian Pool, the Watertower, The Biltmore Hotel and a number of the renowned residential theme hamlets , i.e., the Italian Village and the Pioneer Village.

There is a rest stop at the Scout House, belonging to Coral Gables Troop 7, founded by Merrick in 1922. Here riders will be treated to water, bananas and and comfort stations. The tour ends back at City Hall with a birthday cake celebration honoring Merrick and the vision that facilitated the creation of the City Beautiful.

The tour is being Hosted by the George Merrick Foundation Troop 7 scouts and celebrates the 116th birthday of the City's visionary founder, George Edgar Merrick born June 3, 1886.

The cost of the tour is $15 per person in advance, Scouts in uniform get to ride for $10. Proceeds from the Bicycle Tour go towards the commission of a statue of George Merrick to be erected at Merrick Park as a permanent tribute the to man who created Coral Gables, the City Beautiful. The Merrick Monument Project is an undertaking of the Coral Gables Garden Club in cooperation with the George Merrick Foundation, inc., and the scouts of Troop 7.