Runners take off at the start of last year’s Run Stanley 5K fundraiser.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — The 13th annual Run Stanley 5K is returning in October and the public is once again invited to run, walk, bark or stroll through the park in an effort to benefit the care of the Frank Stanley Beveridge Wildlife Sanctuary.
The event has only continued to grow as a community favorite each year and expectations this year are no different. The 5K fundraiser sees participants of all ages join in for racing or casual fun all in support of the park and its trails.
The event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. at Stanley Park. The day will feature the classic 5K trail run/walk, a 5K K9 trail run/walk, the kids’ Munchkin Run hosted by Dunkin’ Donuts, and the Stroll & Roll, a wheel friendly, 1-mile non-competitive walk through the park’s accessible pathways.
“It’s not a typical road race because you get to go down into the sanctuary,” said Development Coordinator Nikki Cornelius. “We’ve just tried to make this one big fun, multigenerational event.”
Cornelius added registration is now open and if registered by Sept. 19, participants will receive a race day T-shirt. Dogs involved with the K9 run/walk will receive a bandana for their race day. Participants can still register passed that date, including the day of in person, but you will not be guaranteed a shirt.
Registration is now open and to sign up visit runsignup.com/Race/MA/Westfield/Run/Stanley. More information on the event is also available on the Stanley Park website.
The event began almost a decade and a half ago now after Westfield State professor Vanessa Diana, an avid runner who often utilizes the park and its sanctuary trails, noticed there could be some improvements that could be made along some areas on the path.
“Vanessa saw the need for work to be done down there and thought we could do a race to help fund the things that were needed down there,” said Cornelius.
Since its formation, the fundraiser 5K through the park has helped support maintenance of the sanctuary and funded small projects aiding the trails such as a floating bridge and updated signage.
“It’s specifically for maintaining the sanctuary trails and also improving accessibility within the park,” added Cornelius. “Including the stroll and roll piece in this whole event is part of that too so we can improve accessibility. A lot of people don’t even realize that you can go down through the Asian garden to get to the pond area, so we still see people with wheelchairs or strollers trying to get down those flagstone stairs.”
There will also be the return of the Stanley Cup School Spirit trophy presented to the school with the most participation in Run Stanley. Highland Elementary School looks to three-peat this year after taking the crown from previous winner for four year’s running Munger Hill Elementary School.
When a school is awarded the title, they get to keep the Stanley Cup School Spirit trophy in house at their school and an engraining of the winning school is added each year.
“Last year was super close, it came down to one runner. When they’re signing up to register, they enter their school and the school with the most gets that trophy,” said Cornelius, adding this portion of the event and the children involved brings great energy to the day.
Those interested are invited to join the community of runners, walkers, hikers, dog owners, and nature lovers of all ages who care about Stanley Park for a fun event that will help to improve the safety and accessibility of its wildlife trails. Prizes will be awarded and mailed to the winners of the different participating categories.
Cornelius added many thanks to the volunteers from the public and from Westfield State for their efforts in helping put on the event each year. Those interested in volunteering can sign up at stanleypark.org/runstanley or reach out to the Stanley Park Facebook page.
Cornelius added she hopes to see another great turnout at the park on Oct. 5 and that as a private, nonprofit park, Stanley Park is not owned by the city and does not receive any local, state or federal tax dollars while remaining free and open to the public, which is why fundraisers like Run Stanley are important and a great way to show support for the public resource.
“I think one of the things is that we have so many races here in the park, but this is the only one that’s actually for the benefit of Stanley Park. I think that plays a big role in it and also, it’s not your typical road race. The trail run really draws people because it’s not just running on pavement, you’re actually in nature running through trails, along the river, and it’s so beautiful down there, so I think that brings a lot of people,” said Cornelius. “And then the whole multi-general piece of it, that you can have a grandparent pushing their grandchild in the stroller while mom and dad run with their dog, and the toddler just did the munchkin run. So, everyone can be involved in it, and I think that brings a lot of people here.”
