Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, alongside other city departments, agencies, and Bank of America Chicago 13.1 organizers, are reminding the public about the upcoming half marathon on Chicago’s West Side on Sunday, June 9, beginning at 7 a.m. Thousands of runners are expected to participate in this event through historic parks and boulevards. For more details, visit chicago13point1.com.

Two wellness-based events will take place in Garfield Park on Saturday, June 8. These include a Wellness Walk and youth events in collaboration with West Side residents. The 1.31-mile Wellness Walk is open to individuals aged six or older and takes participants on a tour of the south side of Garfield Park. Following the walk, children between seven and fourteen can participate in 200-meter and 400-meter races.

Street closures will begin on Wednesday, June 5 at 6 a.m. and continue until Monday, June 10 at 5 p.m., with varying schedules throughout the event days. Specific times for street closures are detailed online at chicago13point1.com.

The half marathon course will start and finish in Garfield Park, traversing Humboldt and Douglass Parks while passing through neighborhoods that line the connecting boulevards. No Parking Zones along the course will be enforced starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 4. Streets will reopen as soon as possible after runners pass each point.

Parking near Garfield Park is limited; however, free shuttle service from Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure (760 W. Taylor Street and 763 W. Polk Street) at UIC will be available from 5 a.m. to noon on race day. Shuttles will run every twenty minutes.

On Sunday, June 9, the Puerto Rican Festival begins at noon in Humboldt Park but is not affiliated with the half marathon. Race participants should note separate street closures and parking restrictions related to this festival.

Public transportation is recommended for those heading to the half marathon or nearby areas affected by race activities. Information on CTA services can be found at TransitChicago.com or by calling (888) YOUR-CTA.

The OEMC urges public vigilance: "If You See Something, Say Something." Suspicious activity should be reported to onsite security or by calling 911.

For safety updates and preparedness tips during summer events like this one, residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

OEMC will monitor the event with public safety partners including the Chicago Police Department which will enforce race day restrictions along the route and facilitate traffic flow. Alerts regarding weather conditions or emergencies will be issued as necessary via NotifyChicago.org.

For further information on emergency preparedness visit Chicago.gov/OEMC or follow OEMC on Facebook (@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC), and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).