3rd Annual Run for the Parks! 5K Run, Walk or Roll

🏃‍♂️ Welcome to the 3rd Annual Run for the Parks!

The Chicago Parks Foundation is proud to present our 3rd Annual Run for the Parks: 5K Run, Walk or Roll!

Sponsored by Banner Wholesale Grocers • Plus Post-Race Park Party!

🎉 Event Overview

Get moving on the Lakefront Trail and join us for a community celebration of our parks! In partnership with Banner Wholesale Grocers, the Chicago Parks Foundation is thrilled to bring our 5K event back for our third year at beautiful Burnham Park.

• Date: 2025-09-14
• Location: Burnham Park at 31st Street Beach, Chicago, IL
• Activities: Timed out-and-back 5K course or guided 1-Mile Burnham Wildlife Corridor Nature Walk
• Kids Dash: New this year - kids 10 and under can participate!

Then everyone enjoys our post-race pancake party with food, drinks, and community fun - all right in the park!

All event registrations include a commemorative shirt and post-race party food/beverage ticket. Family-friendly. All ages welcome.

Your registration supports the Chicago Parks Foundation’s work to help make parks better, serving as your 501c3 community partner for over ten years.

Details on event parking, packet pickup, and more coming soon.

🏅 Choose How You Will Participate

• 5K Run, Walk or Roll: A timed out-and-back 5K course starting south of 31st Street Beach and heading south on the Lakefront Trail. The 5K course takes place on the paved pedestrian pathway of the Lakefront Trail. Course suitable only for walkers, runners, and manual wheelchair participants of all paces. Course NOT suited for bicycles, handcycles, or rollerblades. Accessibility guides welcome. All ages welcome.
• 1 Mile Nature Walk: Enjoy a 1-mile nature walk along the beautiful Burnham Wildlife Corridor guided by University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists. Guided walks will occur during the 5K race as an alternate activity. A great option for kids, family, and friends who want to support 5K participants. This is a woodchip path not suitable for wheels. All ages welcome.
• New! Kids Dash: Ages 10 and under. After the 5K race, kids get out on the Lakefront Trail course for a 1-mile or 1/2 mile dash of their own! Children participating only in the Kids Dash must be supervised before and after dash. (Children are welcome to register for the 5K or the 1-Mile Nature Walk in addition to or instead of the Kids Dash.)
• ALL registered participants: will receive a commemorative shirt and access to the post-race party including food/beverage ticket.

🤝 CPF Thanks Our Partners

Chicago Parks Foundation is proud to once again partner with Banner Wholesale Grocers as our third time Presenting Sponsor. Banner is a Chicago’s very own family-owned business, serving communities for nearly 100 years. Just like our city’s beloved parks, Banner is uniquely Chicago!

Run for the Parks 5K! is also supported by ATI Physical Therapy, Goose Island Beer Co., and Move-tastic!. Special thanks to the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Program.

ℹ️ About Chicago Parks Foundation

For over a decade, the Chicago Parks Foundation has served as the 501c3 nonprofit partner of the Chicago parks. The CPF answers the call with positive, productive park energy! Our work includes helping communities raise funds for their park projects and programs, leading the first citywide park clean-up volunteer initiative, coordinating donor-funded park improvement projects, and more. Learn more about CPF here.

📝 Additional Info

• Spectators: Spectators are welcome without registration. Spectators do not have access to the 5K race or the 1-mile walk, and do not receive a t-shirt or food/beverage ticket.
• Stroller Friendly: This event is stroller friendly. For safety reasons, if you are running with a stroller please line up behind other participants at the Start Line.
• Stay Tuned: Please stay tuned for additional details on directions/parking, packet pickup, and more.

For more information and to register, visit the official race page.