Registration Now Open For Safe Routes To School 5k

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Takoma Park residents can now register to participate in this year's 9th Annual Safe Routes to School 5k Challenge on May 7.

The race is being held to promote Safe Routes to School, to spend a day with the community enjoying a family friendly, healthy activity and to raise funds for the Parent Teacher Associations at five area schools: Takoma Park ES, Piney Branch ES, Rolling Terrace ES, East Silver Spring ES and Takoma Park Middle School.

The Takoma Safe Routes to School program aims to encourage students to walk to school regularly and safely. In addition to providing built in exercise for the students, this will reduce traffic congestion and emissions around schools.

The funds are used for programs that focus on walking for health, fitness and bike/pedestrian safety.

Safe Routes also finances infrastructure projects in the City of Takoma Park such as improving sidewalks and intersections.

Participants can join three groups to complete the race with at 8 a.m. — Wave 1 is a 10 minute mile and faster; Wave 2 is over 10 minute mile and runners with strollers (in the back) and Wave 3 is walkers.

There is also a one-mile run at 9 a.m. and a quarter-mile run for kids at 9:15 a.m.

The race begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 7 in front of the Takoma Park Community Center at 7500 Maple Ave. Prizes will be awarded before 10:00 am.

Post Race Activities will also be held in front of the Community Center and will include cheering for the Fun Run and Youth Run and a Sponsor Fair with give aways and demonstrations. There will be plenty of good food, cool drinks and music will be on hand while race results are tabulated.

You can learn more about the race here.

Photo: Pixabay