Richland Creek Run, April 7

Greenways for Nashville announces the Richland Creek Run on April 7th:

Attached you will find the News Release for the Richland Creek Run planned for April 7, 2007, and organized by the Sylvan Park, Cheokee Park, and Richland West End neighborhood associations. The event will be a Celebrate Nashvile event, held in conjunction with the Mayor's Walk on the Richland Creek Greenway that day. The Mayor is also the start official for the race.

Runners Mark Your Calendars:
Inaugural Richland Creek Run Set for April 7, 2007

A five-mile timed and measured run through the new Richland Creek Greenway and Sylvan Park neighborhood is scheduled for April 7, 2007. This inaugural race will celebrate the Richland Creek Greenway and provide participants with the opportunity to preview the newest segment of the Greenway, which will officially open later this year. Net proceeds from this Celebrate Nashville event will benefit Greenways for Nashville, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the creation, protection, preservation, and promotion of Nashville greenways.

The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. outside of the Cohn Adult Learning Center, 4805 Park Avenue, and will wind through parts of Sylvan Park neighborhood before heading onto the Richland Creek Greenway and finishing back at Cohn. Mayor Bill Purcell will be the official race starter.

St. Thomas Hospital, The Wilson Group, Vanderbilt University and Montgomery Bell Academy are primary sponsors of the Richland Creek Run, which is being organized by the Sylvan Park, Cherokee Park and Richland-West End Neighborhood Associations. The race’s media sponsors are the Nashville Scene, Lightning 100, and Team Green.

The Richland Creek Run is one of the few five-mile events in the middle Tennessee area. The run will be an excellent pre-Country Music Marathon training event.

“The neighborhoods’ involvement in organizing the Richland Creek Run demonstrates the enthusiasm and anticipation the community has for this new greenway,” said Jane Laub, Coordinator for Greenways for Nashville, “and we hope to see the Run become an annual event and fundraiser for GFN.” Greenways for Nashville works in partnership with the Metro Parks Greenways Commission and is a member organization raising awareness of and support for the Nashville greenways initiative.

Participants can register in advance online at www.active.com or by completing and mailing a registration form downloaded from www.richlandcreekrun.com. Pre-registration is $17, and Race-day registration is $25. T-shirts are guaranteed to all pre-registered participants.

"We are very fortunate to have a community asset like the Richland Creek Greenway, and we want to encourage runners from across the city to come share in our celebration as we near the opening of the next phase of the city's greenway system," said race-committee chair Jason Holleman. "I think that everyone who comes out for this event will find that a tremendous effort has been made by a dedicated coalition of area neighborhood associations, local schools and businesses, and individual volunteers."

The Richland Creek Greenway's first segment opened to the public in the fall of 2005. The second and largest segment of the Richland Creek Greenway is scheduled to be completed by early summer 2007. The Greenway will connect the neighborhoods of Sylvan Park and Cherokee Park with the schools and businesses along White Bridge Road. This 2.5 mile greenway provides a scenic, natural experience in the midst of a bustling community.

For additional information about the Richland Creek Run, visit www.richlandcreekrun.com or contact Jason Holleman at 269-6365. For additional information about Greenways for Nashville, contact Jane Laub at 862-8400 or visit www.greenwaysfornashville.org.