The recognition will occur at the Roanoke Rapids Lake Park off Oakwood Avenue at the large picnic shelter near the start-finish around 11 a.m.
Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky said representatives from the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association will be on hand to present the certificate prior to the half-marathon awards presentation.
“It's definitely exciting to celebrate this designation as a great greenway,” she said. “It gives us more momentum to start to use it in our marketing and presentation of our community.”
Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Manning said Mike Green will accept the award on behalf of the Canal Commission, along with Randall Spence of the Canal Museum.
The designation, Manning said, “Will be good for tourism. People look at those things. Hopefully it will draw more people to the trail and museum. It's just good for our community to have a nice greenway offered to them on a daily basis.”
The city is expected to see between 325 to 350 runners sign up.
The half-marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. The 8K starts at 8 a.m. and the fun run for children starts at 9:30 a.m. The fun run course will be a half-mile loop at the lake park.
The fun run, said Manning, is a new addition to the half-marathon activities. “We wanted to get kids involved and encourage them to be physically active.”
The city is partnering with the Roanoke Valley Community Health Initiative on the fun run. “They were kind enough to help us with door prizes.”
The children's bag they get when their parents enter them include outdoor-related prizes donated by the initiative.
Meanwhile, Manning said all contingencies are in place for the race, which is expected to be held in humid weather with a chance of scattered thunderstorms.
Halifax EMS will have its mobile unit stationed at the lake park and designated Roanoke Rapids Fire Department first responders will be stationed as well. “Our staff will include about 20 of our full and part-time employees along the trail.”
Halifax Convention and Visitors Bureau staff will be assisting, along with Friends of the Canal.
In all there will be some 30 to 40 volunteers to help at aid stations which will be located at the museum, River Road and the portion of the trail under the river bridge at Interstate 95.
Police will direct traffic at Roanoke Avenue near the museum and at River Road. The state Department of Transportation will assist.
“We're trying to make sure we have ample EMS and first responders,” Manning said. “Safety is a priority.”
