Title
Resolution to Approve Street Closures for the Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 26, 2026
Memorandum
Attached for your consideration is a resolution to approve the closing of certain streets for the Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 5:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
The sponsor, RF Events, is an Ann Arbor based event company. During their 30+ years of event management in SE Michigan they have worked with numerous charity organizations. The Ann Arbor Turkey Trot's main charity partner for 2026 is the Washtenaw Promise. For the past several years that this event has been in place, there has been little to no negative feedback.
The actual event will begin at 7:30 A.M. and end at 10:30 A.M with the additional time to be used for setup and breakdown. Setup will begin at approximately 5:00 A.M. in the private parking lot at 339 Liberty, and cleanup will be completed by 10:30 A.M. Music and announcements over loudspeakers will begin at 7:30 A.M. on Liberty and Main. All streets will be reopened as soon as safely possible after the last runners and participants have cleared the affected areas. The following streets will be affected:
• South Main from East Liberty to East Keech
• East Keech from South Main to Greene Street
• Greene from East Keech to Hill Street
• Hill Street from Greene to South Fifth
• South Fifth from Hill to East Madison
• East Madison from South Fifth to South Division
• South Division from East Madison to Benjamin Street
• Benjamin Street from South Division to Mary Street
• Mary Street from Benjamin to East Hoover
• East Hoover from Mary Street to South Main Street
Music will be played from 7:30 A.M. until 9:15 A.M. and racers will be cheered at the aid station south of Hoover and Greene near Keech with a 20’ blow-up and snow machine. The Sponsor agrees to obtain all necessary permits, to provide evidence of proper liability insurance as required, to comply with all City regulations governing the use of the streets and will reimburse the city for all event expenses including moving barricades to sidewalks after the event, if necessary.
Notification of the street closings will be provided through the City’s website, GovDelivery, www.theturkeytrot.com <http://www.theturkeytrot.com>, e-mail, and the event organizer’s Facebook page.
This event has been coordinated with all relevant City service areas for the purposes of traffic control and for the protection of the health and safety of the participants and the general public.
Staff
Prepared by: Debra Williams, Office Manager
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City has received a request to approve the closing of the following streets for the Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 5:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.;
• South Main from East Liberty to East Keech
• East Keech from South Main to Greene Street
• Greene from East Keech to Hill Street
• Hill Street from Greene to South Fifth
• South Fifth from Hill to East Madison
• East Madison from South Fifth to South Division
• South Division from East Madison to Benjamin Street
• Benjamin Street from South Division to Mary Street
• Mary Street from Benjamin to East Hoover
• East Hoover from Mary Street to South Main Street
Whereas, The street closures will be signed, barricaded and properly supervised;
Whereas, Barricades must be moved by applicant to the sidewalks after event ends;
Whereas, The Sponsor agrees to obtain all necessary permits, to provide evidence of proper liability insurance as required, and to comply with all City regulations governing the use of the streets;
Whereas, The Sponsor has agreed to pay the cost of City services associated with the staging of this event and moving of barricades at the end of the event, if necessary;
Whereas, Notification of the street closings will be provided through the City’s website, GovDelivery, www.theturkeytrot.com <http://www.theturkeytrot.com>, e-mail, and the event organizer’s Facebook page.; and
Whereas, All streets will be reopened as soon as safely possible after the last runners and participants have cleared the affected areas;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the closing of the following streets on Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 5:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.; and
• South Main from East Liberty to East Keech
• East Keech from South Main to Greene Street
• Greene from East Keech to Hill Street
• Hill Street from Greene to South Fifth
• South Fifth from Hill to East Madison
• East Madison from South Fifth to South Division
• South Division from East Madison to Benjamin Street
• Benjamin Street from South Division to Mary Street
• Mary Street from Benjamin to East Hoover
• East Hoover from Mary Street to South Main Street
RESOLVED, That the Sponsor will pay the cost of City services associated with the staging of this event including moving barricades to the sidewalks after the event, if necessary.