The Park District of Forest Park and School District 91 are joining forces to hold a three-kilometer run on the south end of the village on Saturday May 4.
The Forest Park Village Council cleared the way for the run at the Feb. 11 meeting, agreeing to close streets that morning to accommodate participants.
The run, called the Inaugural Go the Distance 3K, is geared toward grade school students, according to Jackie Iovanelli, park district executive director.
She said organizers wanted to give grade school students “a challenge they can accomplish,” noting that one mile is too short and five kilometers is too long. She also said there are no other three kilometer runs in the Chicago area.
Iovanelli said the event is still in the planning stages but organizers are hoping to start publicizing it once the village council approved the street closings. She said further information will be available in the park district brochure. Sponsorship opportunities will be available through the school district, she added.
Streets will be closed between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The run itself is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.
The run will start and finish at The Park at Hannah Avenue and Harrison Street. The course, certified at 3 kilometers by USA Track and Field Inc., will go south from the park on Hannah to Fillmore Street, west to Beloit Avenue, north to Lexington Street, south to Harvard Street, west to Troost Avenue, north to Park Street, east to Dunlop Avenue, north to York Street, east to Lathrop Avenue, north to Harrison and east to the park.
In response to Commissioner Dan Novak’s concerns, Village Administrator Tim Gillian said residents “in the footprint” of the run course will be notified by race organizers.
