Leeds City Council has confirmed that parkrun events will be able to restart in council managed parks and green spaces.
The council would like to pass on their thanks to parkrun UK organisers for their constructive approach regarding the restart, and for their ongoing commitment to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect the health and wellbeing of participants and volunteers as the city continues to tackle coronavirus.
Runners and volunteers are asked to please contact their relevant parkrun organisers to find out more details regarding when events will start once again in individual parks and green spaces.
There are two parkrun events in South Leeds: Cross Flatts parkrun in Beeston and Middleton Woods parkrun. Like all parkruns across the UK and the globe, they are free, timed 5km run, jog or walks, taking place every Saturday morning at 9am. South Leeds Life understands that organisers are working towards restarting these events from Saturday 5 June 2021.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment and active lifestyles, said:
“Many of the challenges that we have faced as individuals and a city over the past year due to coronavirus have been truly unprecedented. We remain very proud that our parks and greenspaces have been somewhere that have provided a real boost to the health and wellbeing of so many people.
“With that in mind, and having assessed all the coronavirus guidance very closely, we are really pleased that following positive discussions with parkrun UK organisers, events will once again be able to take place in council managed parks and green spaces across the city.
“Whilst the return of events such as parkrun is undoubtedly great news, it is still really important that we do not become complacent to what still needs to be done to tackle coronavirus. We do therefore politely ask that participants in parkrun events please continue to follow closely the guidance that is in place regarding social distancing and gatherings to not only protect the health and wellbeing of themselves, but others.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
Photo: Runners and walkers at Cross Flatts parkrun in 2018
