Volunteers Wanted to Help Bring parkrun to Dukes Meadows
Council backing means longstanding idea could finally progress
A parkrun being held in Wimbledon
September 12, 2026
Dukes Meadows Trust has launched a fresh effort to establish a parkrun at the Meadows. It is inviting residents to a volunteer meet-up later this month to help turn this long-standing idea into a fully organised weekly event. The gathering will take place at 11am on Saturday 19 September, in front of the Pavilion on Market Drive, beside the Sunday Food Market.
The Trust believes the Meadows offers an ideal 5k course, taking in the riverside path and the newly restored Promenade Approach. With the Council now formally supportive of the idea, the final hurdle is assembling a team of volunteers large enough to run the event safely and sustainably.
parkrun, founded in 2004 in Bushy Park, has grown from a small Saturday morning gathering of 13 runners into one of the world’s most successful community fitness movements. More than 2,000 parkruns now take place across 22 countries, all free, all volunteer-led, and all designed to be welcoming to every pace and ability. Despite the name, participants are encouraged to walk, jog or run, and many attend simply for the social connection, the routine, or the chance to enjoy green space with neighbours.
Kathleen Healy, Director of Dukes Meadows Trust, said the appetite locally has been clear for years. “We have had many requests from people wanting to have a parkrun at Dukes Meadows. There was an attempt to set one up a few years ago, but the Council was not receptive to the idea. We now have confirmation that the Council supports setting up a parkrun at Dukes Meadows so are happy to help with getting it going.”
She added that the success of the initiative will depend entirely on community involvement. “Whether it can go ahead will depend on the level of support from people willing to volunteer, so we are hoping for a good turnout on the 19th. If anyone would like to help but can’t make the 19th, they can email me on admin@dukesmeaowstrust.org.”
If established, Dukes Meadows would join a growing network of West London parkruns, offering a new riverside route. A weekly, free, community-led event fits neatly with the Trust’s wider work to improve the Meadows and encourage people of all ages to enjoy the space.
The volunteer meet-up on 19 September is open to anyone interested in helping with organisation, marshalling, timing, or simply supporting the launch phase. If successful, the Dukes Meadows Parkrun would take place every Saturday at 9am, in line with the global format.
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