The 2021 Jackson Heights Mile (Photo by Horse and Duck Studio)
Aug. 15, 2022 By Christian Murray
The second annual Jackson Heights Mile will take place at the end of the month and between 500 and 1,000 runners are likely to participate.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 and will take place along 34th Avenue. The run/walk will start by Northern Playground on 94th Street and end on 34th Avenue at 76th Street. The race is being organized once again by the Queens Distance Runners, a running group established in 2013 that founded the event in 2021.
The registration fee is $25, and registrants will also receive a race day T-shirt and a “Jackson Heights passport.” The passport will provide participants with discounts at local businesses. The deals have yet to be announced.
The QDR 1 Mile course map.
This year the proceeds from the run will be split between the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition and Queens Distance Runners, which has 1,500 members and hosts several running events throughout the year.
“The second annual Jackson Heights Mile should be an excellent event — like last year’s,” said Kevin Montalvo, co-founder of Queens Distance Runners and a race organizer. “We are grateful to our volunteers and members who make this happen.”
Montalvo said that the Queens Distance Runners selected the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition as a co-beneficiary in recognition of the group’s community service.
“We would like to thank the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition for their year-round consistency for organizing events for the public to enjoy right here in Jackson heights.”
Last year, the proceeds from the run went to the victims of the massive apartment fire that broke out at 89-07 34th Ave. on April 6, 2021. The fire left 21 people injured and more than 100 families displaced.
The run raised more than $6,000 for the fire victims.
The race this year will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with different starting times based on age and gender.
There will also be a 400 meters kids run, which will kick off on 81st Street and 34th Avenue.
To register for the mile and for more details, please click here.
