Patriots' Race Postponed In Mendham Amid Smoke, Air Quality Issues

MENDHAM, NJ — The 14th annual Patriots' Race has officially been postponed by the Mendham Township Recreation Department.

The race, which was initially scheduled for Saturday, June 10, has been moved back to Sunday, June 25, due to concerns about the current air quality.

Air quality alerts remain in effect in Mendham, but smoke and air quality conditions will continue to improve Friday morning and are expected to improve throughout Friday and Saturday, according to officials.

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), has updated air-quality data from around the nation. Mendham has a "moderate" level of air pollution as of Friday morning.

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as "PM 2.5" — which can irritate the lungs.

Officials reported Mendham at 86 on the AQI scale as of Friday morning.

The Mendham Patriot 5K Race raises funds for college scholarships, recreation programs and local charities.

The Patriots' Race is the Recreation Department's largest event of the year, determining funding for recreational programs and events. With the township budget providing only a small amount of funding for programs, events and Brookside Beach, this is the community's opportunity to support Mendham Township Recreation, officials said.

Mendham Township officials said that further information will be presented to the public once it is confirmed.

Contact David Guida with Mendham Township Recreation with questions or for more information at (973) 543-4555 or dguida@mendhamtownship.org.