Whitman Field Day to include 5K road race
WHITMAN — Tradition will mix with some new twists at this year’s July 4th Family Field Day in Whitman Park. While a complete schedule is still being ironed out, Assistant Town Administrator Gregory Enos said the games and bike decorating contests would be back joined by a hula hoop contest and the fun run will be growing.
“The schedule is going to be similar to what it was before, but Beth Goldrosen is going to be turning that little fun run into a 5K,” Enos said.
“If you don’t want to run, we can always use volunteers on the course to help hand out water or help keep runners from taking a wrong turn,” Goldrosen said. “Most of the course will remain the same, we’re just adding on at the beginning and the end to create a 3.1-mile course.”
Volunteers can contact Goldrosen at bsheib@hotmail.com.
Walkers able to complete the course in under an hour are also invited to take part.
Recreation Director Emily Richardson resigned the part-time post on June 12 due to time conflicts with her full-time job, Enos reported to selectmen Tuesday, June 16. Former Recreation Committee Chairman Dan Mason is filling in on an interim basis, primarily to get the summer pool and day camp programs started on time — Saturday, June 20 — and to help plan the July 4 event.
“We have a great park and pool program, but because of different issues, we hadn’t seen the participation last year that we have in the past, and right now we’re not seeing a significant level of registration,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam told selectmen. “It would be a shame if we had to cut back on that program because of lack of interest.”
He suggested part of the problem might be that the director did not get the information to the right people early enough.
“There’s a lot of things this program could be doing, that they want to do, and having a road race and a runners’ club is a direction we want to go into,” Mason said about the July 4 event.
July 4th
Celebration
All events are free.
• 7:30 to 8 a.m. 5K Run for Fun Registration. Runners aged 13-over 50 welcome.
• 8:15 a.m. 5K Road Race Begins.
• 9:30 a.m. Bike & Carriage Decorating Contest.
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Family Field Day. Music and more including dashes, jumps, races and tosses for all ages. Dunk tank participants must be over 18.
• 1 to 5 p.m. Town Pool Open to Residents free of charge.