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

  • Date Sun 14th September 2025
  • Time 9:00AM CDT
  • Location Chicago, Illinois
  • Price $11.85 - $43.65
  • Races 3 races
  • Distances 5km, 1 Mile

Event summary

Join us for the 3rd Annual Run for the Parks on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the scenic Burnham Park in Chicago, Cook County! This vibrant community event invites participants of all ages to enjoy a 5K run, walk, or roll along the picturesque Lakefront Trail. Whether you’re racing for time or simply soaking in the beautiful surroundings, the course is perfect for everyone, including manual wheelchair participants.

New this year, we’re excited to introduce a Kids Dash for children aged 10 and under, along with a guided 1-Mile Nature Walk for those who prefer a leisurely stroll. After the races, celebrate your achievements at our post-race pancake party filled with delicious food, drinks, and community fun! Each registration includes a commemorative shirt and access to the festivities. By participating, you’re also supporting the Chicago Parks Foundation's mission to enhance and protect our beloved parks. Don’t miss out on this fantastic day of fitness, family, and fun in the heart of Chicago!

Organiser's Description

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!

_

GET MOVING ON THE LAKEFRONT TRAIL AND JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF OUR PARKS! IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANNER WHOLESALE GROCERS [https://www.bannerwholesale.com/banner-history], THE CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION IS THRILLED TO BRING OUR 5K EVENT BACK FOR OUR THIRD YEAR AT BEAUTIFUL BURNHAM PARK.

Start the morning with either the timed out-and-back 5K course on the or a guided 1-Mile Burnham Wildlife Corridor Nature Walk. New this year - children 10 and under can be part of our Kids Dash! 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 Foundations 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 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 [https://www.bannerwholesale.com/banner-history] as our third time Presenting Sponsor. Banner is a Chicagos very own family-owned business, serving communities for nearly 100 years. Just like our citys beloved parks, Banner is uniquely Chicago!

Run for the Parks 5K! is also supported by ATI Physical Therapy, [https://www.atipt.com/] Goose Island Beer Co. [https://www.gooseisland.com/], and Move-tastic! [https://www.move-tastic.com/]. Special thanks to the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Program [https://extension.illinois.edu/mn].

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 [https://www.chicagoparksfoundation.org/].

ADDITIONAL INFO

*
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.

*
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.

*
Please stay tuned for additional details on directions/parking, packet pickup, and more.

Races

  • 5K Run, Walk or Roll

    Incl. $3.65 Fee & Unisex Sizing Race Day Shirt

    Sun 14th September 2025 (9:00AM CDT)

    $43.65

    A timed out-and-back 5K course starting south of 31st Street Beach and heading south on the Lakefront Trail. Run, walk or roll the course. All ages welcome. All participants receive a commemorative shirt and post-race party food/beverage ticket. The 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.
  • Nature Walk

    Incl. $2.75 Fee & Unisex Sizing Race Day Shirt

    Sun 14th September 2025 (9:00AM CDT)

    $27.75

    If you will not be completing the 5K race, we welcome you to enjoy an optional 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. Located just west of the Lakefront Trail 5K course. This is a woodchip path not suitable for wheels. All participants receive a commemorative shirt and post-race party food/beverage ticket. A great option for kids, family, and friends who want to support 5K participants. All ages welcome.
  • Kids Dash

    Incl. $1.85 Fee & Unisex Sizing Race Day Shirt

    Sun 14th September 2025 (9:45AM CDT)

    $11.85

    New this year! After the 5K race, kids get out on the Lakefront Trail course for a 1-mile dash of their own! For ages 10 and under only. 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.

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Location

Burnham Park at 31st Street Beach, 3100 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, 60616, IL, United States

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Sep 14, 2025

$11.85 - $43.65