The annual Potter Park Zoo 5k run has changed into a Rhino Romp one-mile children’s race followed by a day of events the entire family can enjoy this Saturday.
“The day of family fun is a new thing that we’ve come up with at the zoo,” said Michele Fox, special events and volunteer coordinator for Potter Park Zoological Society. “We’re trying to get an activity where the whole family gets involved — it’s not just something for the little little kids.”
Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can be registered for the race at PlayMakers Athletic Footwear, L&L Food Centers or by going to the Potter Park Zoo Web site. The registration fee before Tuesday is $13. Registration between Tuesday and Saturday is $16 and all participants will receive a T-shirt. For those planning on attending the post-race events, regular admission will apply. For Ingham County residents, admission will be $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-16 years old. Parking for residents will be $2 and $4 for non-Ingham county residents. For nonresidents, the admission fee will be $10 for adults and $2 for children.
Events on Saturday will begin at 9 a.m. with a Kids Diaper Dash, followed by a one-mile run at 9:20. The race portion of the day will end around 10 a.m. and then the other events will end at 3 p.m.
“The diaper dash is just the thing at the beginning for runners who have siblings who are too young for the race,” said Diane McNeil, Executive Director of the Potter Park Zoological Society. “It’s just a short distance to see if they can toddle. It’s for photo opportunities. Those kids will get a popsicle at the end of the race.”
The change from the annual 5k race was to gear the race toward younger children, said McNeil.
“We made it a kids one mile,” McNeil said. “We changed it so the kids could get a better attitude for fitness.”
Some of post-race events include the MSU science theater demonstrations, Fox 47 sending three race cars, the U.S. Army bringing a humvee and an inflatable basketball game. There also will be radio control plane and helicopter demonstrations as well as a tiger enrichment program for animal education.
“That is our main job at the society: educating the public about the animal kingdom, what their purposes are and how we can learn from them,” McNeil said.
All proceeds from the event will go toward the Rhino Yard Expansion Project.
“We’re doubling the size of the outdoor yard,” Gerry Brady, Potter Park Zoo Director, said. “We’re adding heavy metal piping, better viewing areas, better landscaping to make it more natural. The indoor building will be more conducive to having them in their holding area. It will be a lot more comfortable and a lot easier for zoo keepers to manage them.”
Event planners are hoping for good weather because rain or shine, the event will go on.
“I’m hoping a lot of people turn out for both things for several reasons: to see what we’ve been doing, support us as we’re trying to get the rhino exhibit and to see what a great day that they might not normally get an opportunity for,” McNeil said.