Bret Myers, Zelienople police officer, stands with the bed that he and four other officers were going to race in last year’s Bed Race Derby in Zelienople. Butler Eagle File Photo

ZELIENOPLE – Ready! Set! Sleep …

At a Monday meeting of borough council, Zelienople’s second-annual Bed Derby officially was announced for July 6.

During the Bed Derby, participants will push a decorated bed on wheels through the borough’s streets as spectators watch the races from sidewalks. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Zelienople Area Public Library.

According to bed derby committee leader and Mayor Thomas Oliverio, participation at last year’s event was low.

The public didn’t know much about it and turnout was low, with only three beds in multiple races, he said.

One bed was run by the Zelienople Police Department, and the other two were from Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church, consisting of one boys team and one girls team.

This year, Oliverio and his committee are working toward a larger event with more participation and spectators.

“I am hoping to have about 10 beds, hopefully more,” Oliverio said. “I expect a big crowd because it’ll be a Thursday night, so there’ll be a lot of people running around on Main Street and will be up there to watch the race. We can have a huge crowd that night.”

New groups that have committed to participating in this year’s races include the Zelienople Veterans Breakfast Club, the Zelienople Boy Scouts, and Karski and Spokane Orthodontics. The Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church and the Zelienople Police Department have committed to return this year.

Event sponsors have been acquired, and the event will be sponsored by Karski and Spokane Orthodontics.

Additional activities planned for the event will be decided and announced at a future date.

To find out how to donate or participate in the derby, call the Zelienople Area Public Library at 724-452-9330.