Some streets to close Sunday for Braidwood 5K

The Second Annual Braidwood Memorial Day 5K, presented by Constellation, is scheduled for Sunday, May 19, with course closures beginning at 8:45 a.m. and the race beginning promptly at 9 a.m. The race will begin and end at Old Smokey City Park, and will be run along residential roadways.
The registration fee is $30 (plus $3.86 sign-up fee via online registration).
Participants will receive an event T-shirt, and the first 400 participants to cross the finish line will receive a medal. Walkers are also welcome to participate.
“In preparation for the event, we wanted to provide residents living along the course with advanced notice as there may be impacts to the roadway(s) adjacent, or leading to, your residence,” said Josh Bollato, ESDA Coordinator.
“We have been working closely with the race organizers to ensure a safe course for the participants while attempting to minimize impacts to residents living along the course.”
Intersections along the route will be blocked by traffic barricades or cones, and staffed by volunteers or emergency personnel, include the following designated ingress/egress points:
• Center and First streets
• Center Street and Cermak Road
• Walker Street and Cermak Road
• Walker Street and First Street
The roadways involved will not be accessible to through traffic.
If you live along the course and must leave your home while the race is in progress, please use extreme caution. Stay as close to the opposite side of the road as possible, drive slowly and remain alert. When the last participant passes an intersection, it will be reopened.
“Exit the roadway at the closest staffed intersection.” Bolatto said. “If you plan on leaving your home between 8:45 and 10:30 a.m., we strongly encourage you to leave early before the route closures begin, or return home after the race has concluded, to help cut down on unnecessary traffic leaving or entering the area.”
The last participant to leave the starting line will have one hour and 15 minutes to cross the finish line. At that point, the course will be reopened, and participants still on the course are asked to move to the side of the road or the sidewalk. The route should be fully reopened by 10:30 a.m.
To avoid safety hazards, residents are asked not to move traffic barricades or cones. Participants will have priority over vehicle traffic.
“We encourage residents living along the course to show their support for the participants by cheering them on, waving American Flags, decorating a sign with encouragement, cheering at the finish line,” Bolatto said.
This year, Ta Canijo Taco Trucks of Joliet will provide food onsite, and chiropractor, Tim Skaggs, of Wilmington will be onsite to provide adjustments before or after the race.
This event is being planned as a fundraiser for the Robert Irvine Foundation, a not-for-profit, 501c3 organization that supports service members, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.
To register and for more information, visit https://runsignup.com/race/IL/BraidwoodMemorialRun.
If you have any questions, please contact Braidwood E.S.D.A. Coordinator Josh Bolatto (815) 791-8093 or via email at jbolatto@braidwood.us.