Holiday race gets new route

This year’s Fourth of July 5K route may look a little different thanks to the lake dredging project, but race organizer Mindy Stalker thinks her team has found a good compromise.

The annual Greater 8/5K, which raises money for the Union County trail system, will be held on June 28 this year. While the 8 mile will continue its normal route from Green Valley State Park to McKinley Park, the 5K’s path around McKinley Lake isn’t possible.

Since December 2024, Clearfield company JNC Construction has been digging up the south end of the lake, working to clear the dirt and sediment built up over the years. This dredging project passed via bond in 2021, and the lake is expected to be refilled in summer 2026.

Due to this construction work, Stalker is avoiding the south end of the park. Instead, the council-approved 5K route will start at the bear, go east on Stone Street, north on McKinley Street, west on Adams Street, out and back on Lake Shore Drive, west on Adams, out and back on Spillway Road, east on Adams and finish south through the park back to the bear.

“I prefer to stay around McKinley as much as I can. To me, it’s much safer,” Stalker said. It’s not as exciting from a runner’s perspective, but I think a lot of people doing this have been doing this for the last 10 years or more; they understand the construction. They’re not repeating hills; they are repeating flat spots, which runners prefer."

Barricades will be placed at roads around the park to keep runners safe. Barricade locations include Adams, Jefferson, Kirby, Stone and South Park streets, as well as Lake Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.

More information on the race can be found at greater8.com.

In other council news...

A public hearing will be held at the July 1 council meeting regarding changes to the city’s fireworks ordinance. The active code only allows the release of consumer fireworks from 5 to 11 p.m. July 2 through July 5.

Newly passed this year, Senate File 303 allows use of fireworks from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 3 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4, as well as from 9 a.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. Proposed changes to the city code take this new law into account, while keeping the previous hours for July 2 and 5.

The city has positions open on four different boards. City boards seeking a new member include parks and rec, the board of adjustments, the historical preservation commission and the library board. Applications can be found online.

A new stop sign on South Park Street at the Patriotic Parkway intersection has been approved after concerns on safety were brought to the council from Quiet Harbor Estate residents.