You are reading

Record crowd comes out for 9th annual LIC Waterfront 5k

LIC 5K 2024 Photo Credit: Alex Lopez

June 4, 2024 By Queens Post News Team

A record number of people took part in the ninth-annual LIC Waterfront 5k on Saturday in aid of the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, a local non-profit dedicated to maintaining LIC’s waterfront parks.

The event, which took place on Saturday, June 1, attracted more than 1,800 people to the 5k and the Center Boulevard Children’s Dashes, which are open to kids aged 2-9.

The 5k kicked off at the intersection of Center Boulevard and Borden Avenue before continuing through the commercial district on Vernon Boulevard all the way over to Queensbridge Park. The race then looped back to the starting line after passing through Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park.

The event, organized by Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC) in conjunction with LIC Post, Woodside-Sunnyside Runners, and Run LIC, has grown enormously since it was first launched in 2015, according to HPPC President Rob Basch.

Rob Basch speaking at the LIC 5K 2024 Photo Credit: Alex Lopez

Basch said the money raised from the event will allow HPPC to run free events in LIC’s waterfront parks throughout the summer, including its upcoming summer movie program.

HPPC will also run a free public paddle along Newtown Creek from the Queens Landing Boathouse this Saturday, Basch said.

Basch added that the money raised from the 5k would allow HPPC to maintain and activate Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park and said he never imagined the event becoming so successful when it launched nine years ago.

“I started this race nine years ago with Christian Murray of the Queens Post and Ann Sansaricq of Woodside-Sunnyside Runners,” Basch said. “We never could have dreamed that it would become such a staple at the Long Island city community. And so successful.”

Children’s dash at the LIC 5K 2024 Photo Credit: Alex Lopez

Basch attributed the race’s success to LIC’s growing population and a rising health consciousness among the community.

“Healthy living has become more important to the community and I think people are embracing it,” Basch said. “Everyone wants to live a healthier life and I think getting out and running is certainly one way of achieving that.”

Basch also believes that the race is a “great way” to show off the LIC waterfront and all that it has to offer.

HPPC Executive Director Jessica Sechrist described the recent 5k as a huge success.

“Hunters Point Parks Conservancy remains incredibly thankful to the community support we receive each year for our annual LIC Waterfront 5K,” Sechrist said in a statement.

“This is our largest fundraising event and it lets us put on the free programs we bring to our parks every summer. This year saw our best-ever attendance, with the race selling out in record time despite increasing the number of runners, and we look forward to having an even bigger and better race in 2025.”