Prairie Striders Running Club kicks off its 2024 outdoor racing season with the Arbor Day 5K at the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center April 26.

The free, timed event is co-sponsored by the City of Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. The race begins at 6:30 a.m. and follows the trails at Dakota Nature Park. This year the finish line and post-race refreshments will be inside the adventure center for a better location to socialize in case of inclement weather.

While the event is free, registration is required. Participants can fill out the form in advance by downloading it at prairiestriders.net/arbor-day-5k.html.

Formally known as the Arbor Day 5K, the event honors Brookings’ “Friend of Trees” Kathleen “Kay” Cheever, who died Jan. 9, 2002. She was a lifelong advocate for the planting, nurturing and appreciating trees in the Brookings area. Cheever served on the Brookings Arbor Day Committee at its inception and initiated this event. 

The city’s forestry department provides a free seedling to all participants. Traditionally, the race has been a great attraction for families and also is walker and stroller friendly.

Directing the race this year is Dan Radtke, a former distance runner at South Dakota State and plant manager at MTR Technologies of Brookings.