JERSEY CITY, NJ —
August 31, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
New event invites children 5-12 to race at Lincoln Park on Sept. 19 as part of Strides for Safety.
The first Saturday of fall now comes with a new ritual for Hudson County families: lacing up sneakers, gathering at Lincoln Park, and joining hundreds of neighbors in a run for safer streets. This year, the little ones get their own starting line.
County Executive Craig Guy announced Monday that the 5th Annual Strides for Safety 5K Against Gun Violence will add a Kids Fun Run, a free event for children ages 5 to 12, set for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19th. The main 5K race follows later in the morning, with an after-party featuring live music, food, and kids’ activities.
Why this matters to Hudson County families
Gun violence is not a distant issue here. It touches neighborhoods, schools, and playgrounds. For parents, it can feel like a threat lurking outside the door—something they want to protect their kids from without scaring them. That’s where this run comes in.
“The Hudson County Strides for Safety 5K is about coming together as a community to build safer neighborhoods for everyone, and that includes our youngest residents,” Guy said in a statement. “When our children see their parents, neighbors, first responders and community leaders standing together for safer communities, they learn that they have a role to play too. We want every generation to know that building a safer Hudson County is something we do together.”
How we got here
Strides for Safety began five years ago as a response to rising gun violence in the county. The first run was modest, but it struck a nerve. Each year, more families, police officers, teachers, and local leaders have shown up, turning a single race into a tradition.
The event is now a USATF-certified course, meaning it’s professionally measured and recognized for competitive runners. But the heart of it has never been about personal bests. It’s about making a visible statement that Hudson County refuses to accept gun violence as normal.
What it means for your Saturday morning
For parents like Maria Santos, a Jersey City mom of three, the Kids Fun Run changes the math. “Normally, I’d have to find a sitter or drag the kids along and hope they don’t melt down,” she said. “Now they get to run too. They’re excited—they’re already talking about who’s faster.”
The free registration removes a common barrier, making it possible for any family to participate. The race organizers have also planned the day to be family-friendly from start to finish, so parents can focus on the run while kids enjoy the atmosphere.
What people are saying
Voices from the community have been positive. “It’s about showing our kids that we show up for them,” said the Rev. Marcus Thompson, a pastor in Greenville who has attended every Strides run. “When they see adults running together, not in fear but in solidarity, that sticks with them.”
County officials emphasize that the run is also a fundraising event, with proceeds supporting the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s violence prevention programs—initiatives that mentor at-risk youth and support victims’ families.
What comes next
Registration is open now. The Kids Fun Run is free, but spots may be limited, so early sign-up is recommended. The 5K registration is on the Strides for Safety website, and families can register children for the Kids Fun Run separately.
As the September 19th date approaches, organizers will continue to share course maps, volunteer opportunities, and details about the after-party. Residents can also join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #StridesForSafety.
This run is more than a race. It’s a chance for a parent to hold their child’s hand at the starting line, for a teenager to see police officers as neighbors, and for a community to say, together, that we choose hope over fear.
Source: Hudson County View
