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

VENICE, Fla. (April 1, 2022) – More than 300 people participated in Wellen Park’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day 5K race. This was the first event in Wellen Park’s new race series that offers fitness enthusiasts the opportunity to walk, run and even bike in friendly competitions in and around the master-planned community.

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.

The race started and finished at the Wellen Park Marketplace shopping complex. After the race, participants gathered at the lawn area adjacent to the Wellen Park Welcome Center to enjoy post-race food and beverages. Awards for Overall Winners, Masters, Grand Masters, Senior Grand Masters and Veterans, as well as awards by age group for male and female, were also presented in a ceremony after the race.

The St. Patrick’s Day 5K is 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.

“The St. Patrick’s Day 5K was the perfect introduction to this race series for our community,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park. “Having so many people come out and participate in this first race shows how excited people are about the Wellen Park Race Series.”  

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]