Wellen Park launches new race series with inaugural St. Patrick’s Day 5K race

VENICE, Fla. (March 4, 2022) – A new race series by Wellen Park will offer fitness enthusiasts the opportunity to walk, run and even bike in friendly competitions in and around the master-planned community. Wellen Park’s debut race is the St. Patrick’s Day 5K race Saturday, March 19. The race will start and finish at the Wellen Park Marketplace shopping complex, located at 12165 Mercado Drive, Venice.

The Wellen Park Race Series was created to inspire the community to reach their physical and mental wellness goals through fitness challenges, such as running, walking, and cycling of varying distances, including 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathons.

“We are extremely excited to kick off this race series for our community,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “Wellness is an integral part of the Wellen Park lifestyle, and we want to provide fun and challenging ways for residents to stay active while enjoying that lifestyle.”

The St. Patrick’s Day 5K will start at 8 a.m., followed by a post-race food and beverage gathering at 8:30 a.m., and the award ceremony at 9 a.m. The post-race activities will be held on the lawn area adjacent to the Wellen Park Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive, Venice.

Registration and full event details for the St. Patrick’s Day 5K is available at wellenpark.com/events/wellen-park-st-patricks-day-5k; all runners and walkers are welcome to participate. Registration is $25 through March 11, $30 through March 18 and $35 the day of the race. For more information, contact Race Director Michelle Churchill at [email protected].

The St. Patrick’s Day 5K is also part of Wellen Park’s “Countdown to Downtown,” a celebratory event series that gives both residents and visitors a taste of what’s to come in Downtown Wellen. Additional races will be announced later this year, leading up to the first phase opening of Downtown Wellen in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Downtown Wellen, the vibrant gathering place for both the community and larger region, will feature retail shops, waterfront dining, and offices. The mixed-use downtown was designed with wellness in mind and offers pedestrian-friendly streets and public community spaces, a grand lawn, and an 80-acre lake for fishing and paddle sports. A 2.8-mile trail circles the lake, creating opportunities for biking, walking and running. The future lakefront also has an outfitter offering kayak and paddleboard rentals from a floating dock.

Unique destinations include Solis Hall, a venue for intimate recitals and concerts, events, community gatherings, weddings and celebrations. Nature-inspired features like a children’s playground blending into its surroundings and a hammock grove with a lounge area under a nearly 100-year-old heritage oak tree connect visitors with the outdoors and provide spots for rest and relaxation.

Wellen Park has been named the No. 6 top-selling master-planned community in the U.S. for 2021 by prominent real estate consulting firm RCLCO. Wellen Park offers a dynamic mix of residential, commercial and recreational options in three districts: West Villages, Downtown Wellen and Playmore. The community currently has approximately 9,000 residents and at full build-out will have more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes.

The community’s brand and vision are rooted in wellness. Wellen Park’s wellness focus is holistic and practical, designed to give residents greater opportunities to connect with one another, take care of themselves and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, all within an inclusive, genuine community vibe.

For more information about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805, go to wellenpark.com or visit the Welcome Center at 12275 Mercado Drive in Venice, Fla. The Welcome Center is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.

Contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR, 239-275-5758, [email protected]