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Organizers, police and foundation leaders discuss street closure, route and volunteer training for Mindful Me mental‑health fair and 5K
Summary
Event organizers and the Ava Korkor Foundation briefed the board on plans to expand a third annual mental‑health resource fair and pair it with a 5K; police said volunteer crossing‑guard training and modified route options can address safety concerns and staff advised coordination with Delafield for cross‑jurisdiction sections.
Organizers of the Mindful Me mental‑health resource fair told the Village of Hartland board they hope to expand the event in May 2026 by moving booths into street space and pairing the fair with a 5K run to reduce crowding and increase visibility. The presenter said previous fairs hosted about 23 organizations the first year and grew to 40 the next year; last year some groups were on a wait list. She asked the board for preliminary feedback on closing a portion of Capitol Drive and using nearby parking and park space for booths.
Dr. Ava Korkor, founder of the Ava Korkor Foundation, described the 5K’s focus on movement and mental health: “Our motto is motion impacts emotion.” She said the Wisconsin events typically attract 50–75 local participants but national events have reached several hundred; local participation could increase if the events combine, she said.
Village staff and police discussed safety, permitting and logistics. A staff member cautioned that the race would cross into the City of Delafield and recommended organizers contact Delafield early because the race start could be located there. The chief of police (present at the meeting) said the department had no public‑safety concerns if full road closures are not required and suggested routing changes to avoid major intersections, including routing down Hailey instead of through the 5‑Points intersection.
Police also explained a common approach to volunteer traffic control: the department can train volunteer crossing guards under state statute with a short, same‑day briefing that covers a few practical rules and vests; officers said they frequently provide this training for school and community events. Organizers said the fair’s booth area would be entirely closed to traffic while a 5K running component could be permitted on nearby streets for a limited morning period. Board members encouraged the organizers to survey downtown businesses about impacts and to meet with staff to complete required paperwork before seeking final board approval.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. Staff advised the organizers to coordinate a proposed route and traffic‑control plan with village and Delafield staff and the police department, and to return with a permit application and a detailed safety plan.
