Norwalk begins talks on first 5K
The Norwalk city council in August 2023.
NORWALK – Norwalk City Council listened as recreation superintendent Sonia Batres explained the planning updates for the first Norwalk 5K Run during their meeting Tuesday evening.
The Recreation Parks Services Department (RPSD) carefully planned the date for the run by referencing when neighboring cities had their 5K events last year to avoid conflicting schedules. They determined the best day for the Norwalk 5K Run and the children’s 1K dash is Sunday, June 2.
“The primary goal is to encourage and foster health and wellness within our city,” Batra said. “It’s open to all ages and skill levels, and residents from beginners to professionals are invited to bring their families and friends.”
RPSD set aside $93,000 for the special event. The run will also create revenue from runner registration and sponsorships. As the event is four months away, early bird registration for the 5K is available for adults ($25) and youth ($15) until March 31. Children ages four to 12 are also $15 for the 1K early registration.
The 5K regular registration fee is $30 for adults and $25 for youth. Meanwhile, the children’s 1K regular and same-day registration is $20. Same-day registration for adults and youth is $40.
The 5K Run has 2,000 spots available, while the 1K dash can have 500 participants.
Councilmember Jennifer Perez encouraged Batres to seek out local businesses to fund and support the event. Sponsors would also receive promotions and advertisements from the city.
“I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for our city,” Perez said. “I know we have so many businesses and nonprofits that would love to be a sponsor for this type of event.”
Councilmember Rick Ramirez jumped in and pledged to help sponsor the event with a starting minimum of $500, noting his donation might be more.
The four sponsor categories are determined by how much each business and organization will give the event with Champion at $2000, Professional at $1500, Rookie at $1000, and Trainer at $500. While each sponsor would receive promotion and advertisement from the city on social media, merchandise and flyers, each business would receive a booth at the Exhibitor Expo during the race.
Additional event details are still being developed as the map for the race will be determined by Feb. 23.
Ramirez also expressed concern the race would be inaccessible to disabled participants. He encouraged the department to create more accessible routes for others with support needs.
The event organizers are considering inclusion measures for people with special needs, indicating a commitment to ensuring the event is accessible to all community segments.
“I want to see if we could possibly include our adaptive program or kids with support needs,” Ramirez said. “If it’s a smaller, shorter route, for children or adults, we have to be inclusive.”
The RPSD will also determine if the event would welcome pets, as their behavior may be unpredictable during a large event.