Park Wood junior parkrun in Maidstone finishes after seven years | Mote Park confirmed as new venue with February 11 start date

The 264th and final Park Wood junior parkrun took place on Sunday - as organisers prepare to move to a new venue in Maidstone.

The curtain came down exactly seven years to the day since the first event was held in 2017.

A pirate theme marked the occasion as 33 youngsters crossed the finish line at Park Wood rec for the last time, celebrating with cakes and wristbands.

There have been 950 different finishers in the weekly 2k run over the years, along with 1,492 PBs and 480 volunteers taking on various duties to make the event possible.

“It’s a perfect way to finish,” said run director Keeley Frazer-Wise.

“When we first started here, our very first one we had snow and ice on the course.

“We all came out, we all had little shovels, we were all determined to start and we had lots of juniors and it was great.

“It was a fantastic day and ever since then it’s grown and grown.

“We’ve loved every minute. It’s been a lot of fun and we’re going to miss it.

“We’re going to miss running through the woods but I don’t feel it’s an ending because we are continuing elsewhere.”

Building works at Park Wood are behind the need to move, with the former Royal British Legion Pavilion, which was leased to Weavering Warriors Rugby Club, making way for houses and Heather House to be replaced by a new community centre.

The junior parkrun, which is for children aged four to 14, is moving to Mote Park, next to the leisure centre.

The first event there will take place on February 11 (9am).

“Mote Park was the obvious place,” said Frazer-Wise.

“It was suggested to us and we approached the council.

“Maidstone Leisure Trust have been brilliant.

“They’ve helped us in setting it up and getting the equipment into the leisure centre for storage.

“There’s