The city of Mesa’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and Mesa Public Library announce the first Bike to Books contest.

Mesa invites students and homeschoolers in prekindergarten to 12th grade to design bike symbol art for a city of Mesa shared use path.

The contest aims to encourage Mesa residents to bike more, read more books and look for opportunities to combine the two by biking to a public library or neighborhood little library, according to a release.

Grand prize winners will have their designs installed on a Mesa shared-use path next winter. Prizes will be awarded to the creators of the winning designs in the following grade brackets: prekindergarten to second grade, third through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade.

“This program will encourage artistic expression, literacy and active transportation and is a great way to introduce civic engagement to youth,” Mesa Library Director Polly Bonnett said in the release. “Bicycles and books are both great ways to reach new adventures and we look forward to seeing all the imaginative designs!”

To participate, visit any Mesa Public Library location to pick up a copy of the design sheet or print a downloadable copy from the library’s website. Participants can drop off completed designs can be dropped off at any Mesa Public Library location. The deadline to submit is July 31. Winners will be announced this fall.

For additional contest information, go to mesalibrary.org/biketobooks.