Runners find fun course at Preston Park
BUTLER TWP — Matt Reagle searched for foot races within a 30-mile radius taking place this weekend to find a 5K at Butler Township’s Preston Park.
The race Sunday morning turned out to be more than just a way for him to keep up with his running routine.
"I love history of parks and places, so it was a thing of beauty to see what this place was,“ said Reagle, a runner from Oil City. ”Any time I do trail races, I enjoy it that much more because I am breathing in that air; I like that a lot better than concrete tracks.“
This is the second year the Friends of Preston Park Foundation hosted a 5K at the park, and organizers said about 110 people raced; about the same as the inaugural race in 2021.
Tony Stagno, executive director of the Friends of Preston Park Foundation, said the nonprofit raises money to support Butler Township’s maintenance of Preston Park. The park was donated to the township by the Preston estate after the late Dr. Frank W. Preston’s wife, Jane, died in 2008.
“Butler Township owns and operates the park, and we just collect money,” Stagno said. “So when they say, ‘This is a project we need help with,’ we can help get things going.”
Stagno said in addition to raising money, the mission of the foundation is to introduce people to Preston Park and all the offerings contained within its roughly 100 acres. He said the 5K race was a good way to promote that mission as well.
“There were some people from Pittsburgh, Green Tree, Carnegie who hadn’t been here,” he said. “Jane Preston’s great-niece was here from Michigan; her family ran the 5K.”
Registrations for the race cost $25 each, but Stagno said the total amount of money raised Sunday is still being counted. Stagno also said some work at the park that needs funding include the potential installation of a second shelter. Also, the pond needs to be dredged, which he said Dr. Frank Preston did every few years.
The organizers of the event considered the event a success as they were cleaning up the course following the race.
“It went really well, we had a lot of people come out,” said township Commissioner Jim Lokhaiser.
Reagle, who was happy taking fifth place overall at the 5K, said he is interested to further explore Preston Park, since he only saw a few stretches of the miles of trails on its grounds.
“It’s nice you have this here and it’s open to the public,” Reagle said.
