The Board of Selectmen voted on Thursday to approve a temporary traffic restriction for a one-way loop through the village of Old Greenwich and along local residential roads for Greenwich Road Runners inaugural “HSS Greenwich Half Marathon” on Sunday, Sept 27.
HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) is the title sponsor. Organizers hope the race will become one of Connecticut’s premier fall road races.
In the past Greenwich Road Runners races have been contained within Greenwich Point Park (Tod’s Point).
Chris Dawson from Greenwich Road Runners went before the Selectmen for a second read and addressed two complaints.
The first was from residents worried about being unable to get out of their driveways along the race route.
There were also concerns from merchants who feared their businesses would be negatively impacted.
Mr. Dawson said he had spent three days going door-to-door in Old Greenwich talking to businesses and handing out copies of the race map.
A letter from GRR to merchants listed benefits of the race to their businesses, including:
● 2,000 visitors in Old Greenwich between 6am-12pm
● About 700 runners and their families + volunteers will come from Greenwich
● About 700 more runners and their families will come from CT
● About 600 runners and their families will come from 13 states and Wash DC
The letter said the very early 7:00am race start time would minimize impact on community. It emphasized there will be only partial road closures – one lane will be open to traffic in the opposite direction of the runners. There will be a 3-hour course limit, so all runners will be off public streets by 10:00am.
Dawson said originally the start time was 8:00am, but it had been moved back to 7:00am when there is less traffic.
“Many of the businesses in town don’t even open until later in the morning,” he said.
Further, Dawson said, “We are going to be working hand-in-glove with Greenwich Police. They’re going to have upwards of 17 off-duty police and we’ll have 150 volunteers on the course including in the business district to help with traffic.”
Dawson said signage will be displayed a week before the event and organizers plan to go door-to-door to distribute a traffic advisory that includes a map of the course and timeline.
The race starts and finishes at Greenwich Point Park with two clockwise loops through the Old Greenwich business district. Runners will leave the park and head north on Sound Beach Ave through the business district, take a right on Harding, proceed along Tomac Ave past Innis Arden Golf Club, turn right on Shore Road, and then right on Sound Beach for a second loop – for a total of 13.1 miles.
File photo of Greenwich Road Runners race within Greenwich Point Park (Tod’s Point). Photo: Leslie Yager
Runners start the Greenwich Road Runners 2024 Father’s Day 5K with a route within Greenwich Point Park (Tod’s Point). Photo: Leslie Yager
Dawson said Greenwich Police suggested issuing a reverse 911 to the Old Greenwich zip code to alert resident the race is taking place. He said residents could consider park their cars across the street, in a neighbor’s driveway or make other accommodations.
“We’ve designed this course to minimize any impact on drivers,” he added. “During the entirety of the race, all the roads will be open counter-clockwise to the runners.”
Dawson said police will place cones along the east side of Sound Beach Ave in the business district.
The race was for runners only – no walkers or strollers. The goal is to get the last runner off public roads and into the park by 10:00am.
The race starts and finishes at Greenwich Point Park with two clockwise loops through the business district.
Runners will leave the park and head north on Sound Beach Ave through the business district, take a right on Harding, proceed along Tomac Ave past Innis Arden Golf Club, turn right on Shore Road, and then right on Sound Beach for a second loop – for a total of 13.1 miles.
John Bysiewicz of JB Sports is the Race Director. He said there will be over 400 runners from Greenwich and the volunteers will be from Greenwich.
Bysiewicz said Greenwich Road Runners will raise tens of thousands of dollars for Greenwich-based non profit organizations. The top three selected by a board vote were Greenwich Parks & Recreation, Greenwich High School Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, and the Friends of Greenwich Point Park.
Also organizations that provide volunteers will also receive donations including Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Scouting, Greenwich Lions Club and Living Hope Community Church.
First Selectman Camillo asked how long a resident would have to wait to get out of their driveway along the race route. “Is there a way for them to get out?” he asked.
Dawson said some of the volunteers would be assisting police in moving traffic along and there would be gaps between the groups of runners.
One resident testified that his concerns about being trapped by the race had been addressed.
“I’m very confident that no one is going to get trapped in their driveway,” he said.
Bysiewicz said emergency vehicles have first priority.
“Someone would be able to get out in an ambulance,” he said. “Folks within the race route might have to wait a minute or two to leave their driveway. They will not be stuck in their house for 20 minutes or any length of time.”
Parks & Rec director Joe Siciliano said GEMS was part of the sign-off on the event and suggested organizers work with them to look at advanced staging within the route to respond quickly.
The Selectment voted 3-0 to approve the temporary traffic restriction for the one-way loop.
Find more information on Greenwich Road Runners online.
See also:
Registration Open for Inaugural HSS Greenwich Half Marathon at Tod’s Point