Friends of the Park 5K putting on 5K fun run this Saturday

PLYMOUTH — On Saturday, May 11 the Friends of the Park will be putting on their first 5K fun run. This event is being put on as a way to help promote what the Friends are all about.

Registration for the 5K begins at 9 a.m. and the race will start at the foot bridge in River Park Square at 10 a.m.

There is no charge to take part in the race but free-donations will be accepted. All money raised will go towards the revitalization of the Centennial Park wooden playground restoration.

Liz Richie, who came up with the idea of bringing Friends of the Park to Plymouth, shared what the group is.

“We’re creating an organization that will help the parks in Plymouth. We all use the park, all ages. I think it is a great thing for the community. We have a core group together to help initiate the Friends of the Park,” Richie said.

She explained that she got the idea for this group when thinking about the Friends of the Library, she thought that the park should have a similar group. She asked the park board about how to go about this. Once Robert Listenberger became the Mayor of Plymouth, he asked her to get the Friends of the Park started.

Richie said that anyone can join the Friends of the Park.

The first project that the Friends of the Park are focusing on is updating the playground of Centennial Park.

As the year goes on the group will put on other fundraisers to help raise more money for the park. She hopes to have three to four activities a year to raise funds.

She added that fundraising is not the only thing that the Friends of the Park will do. She thinks that they could also do volunteer work. These types of things could include helping get rid of invasive plants, cleaning up the park or helping out at other events in the parks.

“It will just be a group of people that come together to help the park system and taking care of the parks,” Richie said.

While the race could raise funds through donations given, the main focus is to get the word out about what the Friends of the Park are. The group will set up a table where they will have information about the group and how those interested can join.

Richie described the course of the race. The race will begin at the River Park Square and go through some of the parks. Founders Park and Centennial Park make up parts of the course.

The race is timed but there will not be bib numbers or trackers for the racers. There will be a prize for the male winner and the female winner.

“It’s not going to be that intense. It’s going to be a fun walk run 5K. You can run it intensely or you can just walk with your kids. It’s just something to go through the parks,” Richie said.

There will also be music playing at the park. Richie is working on other plans for the future of the Friends of the Club. She said that there are many things in the parks that could need updates in the future.

“The park needs help. This would just be our community coming together. It doesn’t cost anything to be a Friend of the Park. We just come together and support our park systems,” Richie said.

Richie gave insight into why she thinks people should come. She talked about how the farmer’s market will be going on around the same time. She hopes that people will take part in the market and then join the race. She said that this 5K can also give people the chance to see the Plymouth Parks.

“They’re going to support our park. It’s just supporting the park systems and getting outdoors and doing something healthy and it’s Mothers’ Day Weekend. They can go for a walk with mom, and it will be nice,” Richie said.

Richie said that people who want to donate with a check should fill it out to the City of Plymouth Centennial Park. This will go to the park department and go into their gift funds.

Ryan Welch will be driving a Gator around to make sure everyone is doing okay during the race. The police will also make sure people are safe at the crossing on Jefferson St.

“I would just say that people should come out to support the park systems and get outside and spend time with mom if they bring their mom. Even if they don’t make it the whole way, they don’t need to do the full 5K,” Richie said.