Palos Park offers a scenic, rural-like setting perfect for outdoor activities—including a 5K dedicated to the neighborhood’s four-legged residents.
The village will host its third annual Doggie Dash 5K on Saturday, May 17, at the Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St. Organizers are seeking both participants and volunteers to assist with the family-friendly event.
“This event is all about celebrating our canine companions,” said Stephen DeFalco, director of recreation and parks for the Village of Palos Park. “There are lots of times we go to events and the pups have to stay home, but this race is one of the few in the area that lets you run or walk with your dog. The post-race village is also geared toward dogs, with most vendors being dog-themed.”
When DeFalco joined the village in 2022, he discovered it had previously hosted a fun run. Wanting to revive the tradition, he worked to bring a unique spin to the race.
“As an avid runner, I wanted to bring that back to the village’s special events calendar,” he said. “When I was thinking of ways our 5K could stand out from the thousands in the area, I thought about how much fun I have running with my two pups, Scout and Willow. The idea snowballed into what the Doggie Dash is today.”
The racecourse begins and ends at Village Green Park, behind the recreation center. The 1-mile course, also known as the Green Route, follows a loop along Forest Glen Boulevard, turning onto 91st Avenue, then 126th Street, continuing to 89th Avenue and Rosewood Avenue before returning to Forest Glen Boulevard to complete the loop.
The 5K course, or Yellow Route, starts along the same path but instead of turning onto Rosewood Avenue, runners will continue onto Ridge Avenue, head up 88th Avenue, and reach the turnaround point at 120th Street before returning to the finish line.
The race highlights the charm of Palos Park, taking participants through rolling hills, mature trees, and peaceful streets. Last year, village officials recorded just over 120 participants across both distances, and they hope for even greater turnout this year. In addition to runners and walkers, many attendees simply come to cheer on participants, both with and without their dogs.
A major draw of the event is the post-race village celebration, featuring local vendors, sponsors, food and beverages, and the ever-popular puppy parade. Everyone is welcome to stay and participate in the parade through Palos Park after the race. Prize baskets will be awarded to dogs with the best costume, cutest costume, and best personality.
“This is a great way for dog owners who aren’t interested in the race to still be part of the event,” DeFalco said.
Dogs participating in the event must remain on a leash at all times, including during the race and post-race activities. To ensure safety, leashes longer than six feet are not permitted.
Volunteers are needed for aid stations, course marshaling, packet pickup, registration, and assistance at the start and finish lines. Those interested can register by emailing sdefalco@palospark.org.
Registration for the 1-mile and 5K events is available on Race Roster at raceroster.com/events/2025/99743/palos-park-doggie-dash. The early-bird special runs through March 2.
The post Palos Park Doggie Dash in need of volunteers appeared first on Southwest Regional Publishing.