From Idea to Inaugural! - Jenkins Park parkrun #1 - 07/06/25
- aqasanu
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
In Paul Sinton-Hewitt’s book, One Small Step: The Definitive Account of how a run became a Global Movement’, we learn about how Parkrun started. There are some fascinating details about how those early events were selected and launched. It’s a riveting read. But did you know that now, after 20 years, Parkrun has become a worldwide phenomenon? According to the incredible Elliott Line website, last week, there were 2,113 parkruns and 478 junior parkruns all over the globe! That’s a staggering 367,000 runners, including 35,000 junior parkrunners, with 47,000 volunteers making it all happen. These numbers are truly extraordinary for a free, community-driven event.
But how did all these other events come about? What does it take to start an event? Fortunately, I had a front-row seat to the start of Jenkins Park parkrun, which my cousin, Dr Yvonne Thomas, started.
Yvonne, the heart and soul behind Jenkins Park parkrun, remembers her first encounter with the magic of Parkrun at Burgess parkrun in London, August 2017. She and her husband were staying with us and seeking to be the perfect host, naturally, I’d registered them and printed off their barcodes so they could attend 🙂 They attend every time they stay with us.
Yvonne shares that “When I experienced the energy at Burgess parkrun for the first time, I felt this would be fantastic for my community”. It was that spark that set her on a journey. After her third Burgess parkrun experience in May 2019, she decided: “I said, ‘I’m going to make this happen,’. In our family, we know when Yvonne says she’s going to do something, watch out, world, as it’s going to happen!
Life, of course, had other plans—enter Covid-19, which halted those early plans. But Yvonne’s determination didn’t waver. It was just delayed, not denied.
Yvonne shared that, ‘It took a while, of course. I’d been thinking about it, talking about it. But after my last visit in 2024, I looked around and thought, ‘This is it! I’m doing it’. And she did. The idea became a plan, and that plan has become a reality!
Yvonne was already involved with Baytown’s Parks & Recreation board, so she started there. “I checked into whether they could host it,” she explains. “Initially, I thought the city might be the perfect host, but I realised it wasn’t the best fit for many reasons.” She then discovered something crucial: Parkrun is supposed to be run by the community, not the city government. That realisation shifted the focus to more grassroots efforts.
Yvonne reached out to friends, family, and anyone who loved to run or walk. ‘I looked for people who like to do, not just watch. Everyone from fitness enthusiasts to those just starting out—everyone was welcome. We built a team of doers. Parks & Recreation was incredibly supportive all the way. The biggest task was mapping out the course and ensuring it was exactly 5K. Luckily, the city helped with that’.
When I asked her about the choice of Jenkins Park, Yvonne explained ‘Jenkins Park is the biggest park in Baytown, so it’s perfect for a 5K. It’s accessible, spacious, and a beautiful place for people to come together and get moving’.
I remember following the Facebook page as it came to life and feeling the excitement of seeing posts advertising their test event. Yvonne explained, ‘I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting any surprises, but it was all very manageable—32 people on the course, all running and walking together. It felt great’.
So the scene was set for the official Inauguration event on 07/06/25. I attended my home parkrun which I did with my sister, daughter and wife and couldn’t help thinking about how 6hrs later (due to the time difference) other members of my family would be taking part in the same activity just in the USA.
The first official Jenkins Park parkrun was a success, with 66 participants and 10 volunteers. Yvonne shared that ‘our mayor made it his business to attend, and he presented a proclamation. That was a great way to start our journey’.
Baytown has a population of around 78,000, so there’s scope for the event to expand significantly and become a new destination for all parkrun tourists; a warm welcome is guaranteed.
Yvonne and her team have started something fantastic that I believe will grow for years to come, and I can’t wait to take part when I next visit.
Stay safe, happy running or walking and happy volunteering.
You can order Paul Sinton-Hewitt’s book One Small Step by clicking here. It’s a nourishing read.
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