As its 200th year approaches, Oxford's committees are looking to bring excitement into the heart of the city.

In celebration of Oxford's upcoming bicentennial year in 2010, the city will hold its first kinetic sculpture race.

Jim McWilliams, Talawanda High School art teacher, created this event.

"I was trying to come up with a fun idea to get people excited," Williams said. "Next year is very special and we are hoping to promote it in as many ways possible."

Contestants will be asked to decorate their bicycles based on their own criteria.

"Participants can build anything that is structured around a bicycle," City Councilor Katie Currie said. "Each model can be as creative as they want, whether the contestants weld the bikes or simply attach streamers."

Talawanda's three-dimensional art class that Williams teaches is looking to take part in this experience.

"My sculpture class will participate in this event," Williams said. "They will be provided with unclaimed bicycles found within the city."

Each spring, a number of bicycles are found within city limits that are never claimed by owners.

"The city holds these bicycles for a minimum of 90 days," Currie said. "In the spring these bikes are either destroyed or auctioned off. This seems to be the perfect way to utilize these bikes."

Although the art class will be provided with available bikes, anyone is able to take part in the April 24, 2010 bike race held uptown for all local participants, provided participants have a bicycle of their own.

"We are even having the race in April in hopes that Miami University students will take part," said Currie. "Because they will still be on campus at the time, we want everyone interested to take part in this special event."

Williams is constructing a number of obstacles for the contestants throughout the course of the race, such as bridges.

"We are trying to make it complete chaos," Williams said. "I will be including hazards to make it a little more difficult."

The race will begin at 11 a.m. at the Phi Delt Gates at the intersection of Campus Avenue and High Street and will run through uptown Oxford, Williams said.

Applications for the race will be available on the city's Web site in November and can be found on the bicentennial page, Currie said. Although there is no entry fee, applications are a requirement so the committee can estimate how many people will enter.