RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Located within the Belmont/Cragin community, Riis Park totals 56 acres and has one ofthe longest racing club traditions in the Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, In the 1960's, George Gebauer of St. Patrick High School began the Shamrock Track Club, which provided year-round races for the few runners that were active at the time. In 1976, George left to become the women's track coach at Northwestern University; and,
WHEREAS, At this point, two former Chicago high school runners came on the scene, Mike Martorano of Gordon Tech and Andy Senorski of Weber. Both had raced at Riis Park and wanted to keep the racing tradition going; and,
WHEREAS, On June 29, 1976, the first race ofthe Riis Park Striders Club was run. The club was based on the example of Ted Haydon's University of Chicago Track Club: Everyone was welcome to participate, whether male or female, from the ages 5 to 95; and,
WHEREAS, Under the Striders Club, Riis Park has become a place where beginning runners come to participate in a race, and established runners come for a good time trial or to run an exciting relay race; and,
WHEREAS, As they continue the racing traditions from the past, there are road races in the fall and winter, and cross-country in the spring and summer. Striders are found at every local race as competitors, officials, or volunteers. They fully embrace their motto "Run and Enjoy"; and,
WHEREAS, The Riis Park Striders are well represented each year in the CARA Circuit; and,
WHEREAS, This year, the Riis Park Striders Running Club will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary; and now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered this 18th day May 2016 A.D. call public attention to the Riis Park Striders Running Club's 40th Anniversary and in that regard do hereby declare that the 29th day of June 2016 be known as:
RIIS PARK STRIDERS DAY
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepa...
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