By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
GREENVILLE — The Greenville Rotary is planning its second annual 5K race for next month.
The Greenville Rotary Responds 5K received approval from the Greenville Town Council at the board’s March 20 meeting and will be held May 20.
This will be the event’s second year.
“They did it last year and it was a great fundraiser for the community,” Town Supervisor Paul Macko said. “Everything will be staged at the North Barn [at George V. Vanderbilt Town Park]. They had a very good crowd last year and it was a very good fundraiser for the Rotary. The vast majority of that fundraising money went back into the community.”
Rotarian Maggie Cunningham told the board the Rotary was working with the county and the state on road closures for the day of the race but said disruptions to traffic would be minimal.
“I think the last time they only had the road closed at [Route 32] and Irving [Road] for a few minutes and we had people stationed there to help,” Cunningham said.
The race is a fundraiser for local groups and projects.
“The last time we did it the proceeds went to signage for the park,” Cunningham said.
Proceeds from this year’s race will go towards a fund to build one or more pickleball courts at the town park, with Rotary working in conjunction with the town of Greenville and the non-profit group Community Partners of Greenville.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Membership in USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body, reached 70,000 in February of this year, nearly a 30% increase compared to 2022, according to the USA Pickleball website.
The sport is played with two or four players, using a perforated hollow plastic ball and a racket, and resembles tennis, but is played on a smaller court.
Registration to participate in the 5K run/walk is ongoing. Each participant will receive a T-shirt, a participation medal and a goodie bag. There will be no age-level prizes or trophies.
The race route will begin at George V. Vanderbilt Town Park, head onto Route 32 for a brief distance before turning onto Irving Road, Newry Lane, Devan Road and then back to the park.
After the race, participants are invited to take part in a free yoga session at the park. The yoga session will be provided by the Bhakti Room; participants must bring their own yoga mat or blanket.
The cost to sign up is $30 between now and May 19, with a $35 registration fee on the day of the race. Children ages 10 and under may register for $5 at any time up to the day of the race. Children in strollers do not need to register, but in order to receive a T-shirt, registration will be needed.
The Greenville Rotary Responds 5K Run/Walk will be held on May 20 and will be from 9-11 a.m., beginning at the town park on Route 32. The race is sanctioned by USA Track & Field. The Greenville Pioneer is one of the race’s sponsors.
The 5K is part of the Rotary Day of Service, a larger Rotary event taking place in 10 states throughout the Northeast, with Rotary Clubs providing community service in a variety of ways.
