Race to Conserve 5K Run (Timed) or 1K to 5K Walk at Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park

Race Overview

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW RACE LOCATION FOR 2026: at the Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park in Englewood (instead of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port as in prior years).

PARK ADDRESS

Address: 6961 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL 34224.

Important Details

• Registration Deadline: January 28, 2026, at 12 midnight is the last day to be guaranteed an event shirt with your registration to run or walk.
• Walking Routes: A 1K walk route will be marked: however, walkers are free to choose their distance between the 1K or 5K routes.
• Start Times: Runners Start: 8:00 am: Walkers Start: 8:15 am.
• Age Participation: Runners/Walkers under age 8 can participate in the run/walk FREE of charge.

Packet Pick-Up and Hydration

Packet Pick-Up: Date/time and location TBA.

A water station will be located at the 1.25 and 2.75 miles of the 5K run and water will also be handed out at the Finish Line. Walkers, please bring your own water to enjoy along your walk route.

Event Timing and Pets

Timing: Provided by Beach Bum Timing (www.beachbumtiming.com).

Pets: Leashed dogs are permitted in accordance with park rules: NON-retractable leashes are preferred please for the safety of both pets and people in and around the event area and start/finish line.

Race Course Information

Caution: The race route will take you into the natural area of the park. Trails are maintained but preserved in a natural state. You may find uneven surfaces, leaves, branches, roots, and other elements typical of this type of environment. "Caution-Tree Roots" signs will be posted along the trails as a reminder. Please wear appropriate closed-toe footwear and exercise outdoor-activity caution.

Post-Race Activities

• Refreshments: Post-race snacks and beverages will be available.
• Information Booths: Booths by some of our area’s other environmental groups will be on hand for your enjoyment and learning.
• Silent Auction: A silent auction of a wide variety of items will be held on-site the morning of the race: your presence is not required to be the winning bidder.
• Raffle: A 50/50 raffle will also be held! Tickets available at various prices.

About the Park

• Park Size: Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park has 315.6 acres of land including 50 acres for active use, 120 acres of environmental land.
• Trail Access: The Oyster Creek Waterfront Trail connects the park with Cedar Point Environmental Park.
• Pool Facilities: The park features a heated, twenty-five yard competition pool with various amenities.
• Recreational Center: Constructed in 2019, the 23,000 sq ft recreation center promotes healthy lifestyles.

Why Support This Race?

We truly ARE in a race to conserve. More than 1,000 people are now moving to Florida each and every day and hundreds to thousands of acres of land are being completely clear cut and scraped away, not just locally in our neighborhoods, but Statewide, to accommodate our growing population daily: this displaces and threatens the very being of our wildlife, endangered species, native plants and trees at the same time. Slowly but surely, our local natural biodiversity is being erased.

All of the trees and plants you will see in the natural areas of the park are examples of those being removed in our neighborhoods daily to make way for development. Few to none are saved/protected or planted back when development is complete.

We hope that in visiting this natural park you will be inspired to learn more about nature in your neighborhood and how you can protect undeveloped land or restore some of your own yard back to a more natural state by planting back native trees and plants or conserve native trees or plants if you are planning to build a home. Volunteer opportunities with us can be found on our website: Volunteer Opportunities.

About Us

As of 9/5/2025, we have acquired and permanently protected 48 parcels across North Port and several areas of Charlotte County (Englewood, South Gulf Cove, Port Charlotte, and Harbour Heights). See our website for all parcel details/locations (www.ecnorthport.com).

Proceeds from this event will be utilized toward future land acquisition purchases.

If you’d like to provide the gift of an additional donation in support of our mission as well, please also visit the Donate tab of this website.

We are not against residential development: all of our Board Members and volunteers live in homes too. We just believe that nature can remain where it has for decades while people move in around it: we can co-exist!

The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. dba The Environmental Conservancy of North Port And Surrounding Areas is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation. WE SAVE NEIGHBORHOOD NATURE. Tax ID Number 84-4132468. To learn more about us, visit our website www.ecnorthport.com or find us on Instagram @npconservancy or Facebook ECnorthport.