Halsey committee rallies to boost Book It 5K signups ahead of May 9 race

The Parks & Library Committee on Feb. 19 discussed steps to increase registration for the Book It 5K, scheduled for May 9, after members said online traffic is lower than in previous years.

Kaitlyn, committee member, said she will increase posts on Facebook and approach local businesses about posting flyers and sponsoring the event. Briana, committee member, agreed to download the past-participants Excel list and send it to Kaitlyn so the committee can email former racers. Stacy, committee member, said she already added the race to multiple race-listing websites and will check costs for paid “boost” promotions.

The committee noted the race website was launched at the end of January this year for early signups and agreed to develop the race website earlier next year — in December — to support an earlier launch and longer promotion window. They discussed a mix of outreach tools: targeted email to past participants, organic and boosted social posts, posting to additional race calendars, and in-person requests to area businesses for flyer placement and sponsorships.

Members also discussed event-day amenities and vendor options. The committee is looking into coffee carts or other food-truck options to increase participant experience and potential sponsorship revenue.

Next steps: Briana will export and share the past-participant list with Kaitlyn for email outreach; Kaitlyn will continue social and business outreach; Stacy will report back with the cost to boost posts. The committee set no further action at the meeting and will monitor registration progress.