Fun Run in Color Comes to Wheaton This Weekend; Road Closures Announced

The Wheaton Park District Fun Run in Color will be held on Saturday, April 5, beginning at 8 a.m. 

The following streets will be temporarily closed for this event:

• North Main Street from Harrison Avenue to Seminary Avenue (temporary detour signs will be posted for southbound Main Street traffic)
• West Street from Northside Park to Seminary Avenue
• Prairie Avenue from Wheaton Avenue to West Street
• Madison Avenue from Cross Street to West Street
• Lincoln Avenue from Wheaton Avenue to West Street
• Jefferson Avenue from Wheaton Avenue to West Street
• Union Avenue from Hale Street to West Street, and
• Wheaton Avenue from Prairie Avenue to Franklin Street

The roads will remain closes for approximately 3½ hours from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Wheaton's First-Ever 5K Color Run Experience

The Wheaton Park District and the Rotary Club of Central DuPage partnered to bring the city’s first ever 5K color run experience to Wheaton. The Wheaton Fun Run in Color 5K is meant to be a vibrant and active way to ring in spring with the whole family, according to a Wheaton Park District press release. 

Dan Novak, Superintendent of Special Facilities at the Park District, was one of the catalysts for bringing a color run experience to Wheaton. Several years ago, he did one with his family in Chicago. 

“The best thing about it is that is was a gathering for friends and family to be active and have a blast. And that’s the environment we as a planning team are trying to capture with Wheaton’s Fun Run," Novak said in a news release. 

So what exactly does this run entail? 

Participants are encouraged to wear white or light colors to maximize the color potential. During the race course through Wheaton neighborhoods and Northside Park, they will pass through several “color stations,” which will consist of volunteers who will shower the runners with vibrant hues. 

While the event has sold out, park district officials are still looking for volunteers to help out. Those interested can sign up online.  

The color is food-grade quality cornstarch that is bio-degradable, non-toxic, and 100 percent safe, according to park district officials. By the end of the race, participants will be walking kaleidoscopes. 

“We don’t want people to be intimidated about the ‘run’ part of this event,” Novak said. “This event is geared toward fun. So while a participant can be a serious runner, they can also walk the course as individual, family, or team.” 

Proceeds from the he Fun Run 2014 in Color benefit local Rotary-supported charities and two Wheaton Park District foundations: The DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation and Cosley Zoo Foundation. 

Sponsors for this event include Edward Jones, Whitlock and Associates, ServPro, Huck Bouma, DuPage Medical Group, Bauer Orthodontics, First Trust, Wheaton Eye Clinic, Powell and Boyle, Squeegee Brothers, and Cantigny.