Turkey Trot moved to Mission District; commissioners cite safety and resource limits

San Gabriel staff told the Community Services Commission that this year’s Turkey Trot (Nov. 15) will use a new closed‑course route in the Mission District to improve safety and crowd control.

Staff described the format — a 5K, a 2.5K, a kids 1K and a new toddler event called the “mini mashed potato dash” — and said the race hub will be at Plaza Park. “It is a closed course, so there won't be any cars that are allowed to pass throughout the route,” staff said. Early registration reached 57 participants within days of opening; staff set a cap of 150 for the inaugural year on the new route.

Commissioners asked whether the race could return to Victor Lugo or other neighborhoods. One commissioner noted the event’s history at Victor Lugo but asked whether the move would be permanent. Staff said the decision was driven by safety: closing Vincent/Victor Lugo would require more barricades, hard closures and additional staffing that the department does not currently have in house. “In increasing safety and increasing the control over the event requires street closures...that would have required more resources than we have in house,” staff said.

Commissioner Cabot responded positively to the safety rationale, saying the Mission District option “sounds like this is a much safer option.” Commissioners asked staff to survey participants after the event to determine whether attendees prefer the new route and to capture feedback for future planning.

No formal vote was required during the discussion; staff will proceed with logistics for the Mission District route and return to the Commission with post‑event survey results and any follow‑up recommendations.