Dukes Meadows parkrun plans revived as organisers seek volunteers

Six years after an earlier attempt stalled, the idea of a weekly 5km run is being taken forward again with Council support

Dukes Meadows could finally get its own parkrun, with organisers looking for local volunteers to help establish a weekly event six years after an earlier attempt to bring one to the park.

Dukes Meadows Trust is holding a meeting on Saturday 19 September for people interested in helping set up the event. It will take place at 11am outside the Pavilion on Market Drive, next to the Sunday Food Market.

The idea is not new. In January 2019, local organisers were already trying to establish a Dukes Meadows parkrun and were recruiting volunteers to help get it started. A planning group subsequently walked the proposed course and began working with parkrun on the permissions and organisation needed to establish an event.

The latest effort is being led with the backing of Dukes Meadows Trust. The Trust says Hounslow Council is now supportive of establishing a parkrun at the Meadows, removing an obstacle that had prevented the earlier proposal from progressing.

Kathleen Healy, Director of Dukes Meadows Trust, said the Trust had continued to receive requests from local residents wanting an event at Dukes Meadows.

“We have had many requests from people wanting to have a parkrun at Dukes Meadows. There was an attempt to set one up a few years ago, but the Council was not receptive to the idea.”

She added: “We now have confirmation that the Council supports setting up a parkrun at Dukes Meadows so are happy to help with getting it going.”

The proposed course would cover 5km, incorporating the riverside path and the recently restored Promenade Approach.

The immediate challenge is finding enough volunteers to make the event viable.

“Whether it can go ahead will depend on the level of support from people willing to volunteer,” said Healy. “So we are hoping for a good turnout on the 19th.”

Volunteers would be needed for roles including marshalling, timing and helping with the organisation of the event. Anyone interested who cannot attend the meeting can contact the Trust at admin@dukesmeadowstrust.org.

Parkrun is a free, weekly 5km event organised by local volunteers. Participants can walk, jog or run, with the emphasis on taking part rather than competing. Events depend on having sufficient volunteers and key operational roles in place for them to run safely.

Parkrun began at Bushy Park in 2004 and has since grown into an international network of community events.

The proposed Dukes Meadows event would take place on Saturdays at 9am if the volunteer team can be established and the necessary arrangements completed.