Racers coming to Cedartown soon
Get ready, set and plan to go out next week on July 5 to watch a real treat in downtown Cedartown.
Find a spot along North College Street in the shade – maybe not in a yard without being invited – and setup a camp chair and take part in the 2018 edition of the Cedartown Wheelchair 5K Road Race before the starting gun goes off at 7 p.m. sharp.
There’s plenty of places to consider watching (bell ringing is also part of the fun as well) following the July 4 holiday, but be aware that road closings will start at 6 p.m. and make it a somewhat difficult to get around certain parts of town.
No access will be allowed in the parking area around Peek Forest Park starting at 6 p.m., along with College Street between Girard Avenue and Jule Peek Road.
Also, the intersection of Martha Lane and College Street, along with Columbia Avenue at College Street will be close at this time. They’ll remain closed until 8:30 p.m.
Before the race kicks off at 6:30 pm., additional portions of College Street will close up to College Circle, along with a small portion of John Hand Road. All of Lakeview Drive, John Phillips Road, Ellen Hand Circle, Wiley Drive, and George West Road will also close.
Drivers also won’t be able to access some of Marshall Street and Martha Lane.
Anyone who wants to travel East or West between Cave Spring Road and Main Street near the race course should use Girard Avenue or Cherokee Road.
Events for the 17th annual Cedartown Wheelchair 5K start off when racers come to town and get in practice time before the race. However the real fun starts on race day with a lunch at the Cedartown Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia, and a chance to tour around.
Multiple sponsors are contributing to the race this year. Those include the City of Cedartown, Duane Morrow, the Polk County
Community Foundation, the Cedartown Museum of CocaCola Memorabilia, Advance Rehab, Fred Barasoain and Heather Pryor, Jane and Harold Wyatt, New Hope Church, Polk Medical Center, The HON Company, Gammon, Anderson and McFall, Polk Veterinary Care, Mundy and Burch, P.C., Mike McRae, Able Sports, LLC., Georgia Power, Bradford’s Drugs, Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Weaver, Janet and Mark Edwards, Larry and Lynne Kuglar, Mike and Alice Pittman, Phil and Dale Tuck, and Polk County Public Service.
The race has been ongoing for nearly two decades, with breaks taken only for the summer Olympic years when athletes are usually training to compete in the Paralympics, which follow the games every four years.
Check back in the July 4 edition for further information about the race, athletes participating and more.