Mighty North Fork Triathlon rides again
The Mighty North Fork Triathlon is back on this summer.
Event Power, a for-profit company that has hosted the popular event for the past 15 years, was initially denied a request to hold the event at Cedar Beach Park and more than a dozen surrounding roads in Southold by the Town month last month.
Members said the event was in violation of a recently passed policy that bans all for-profit outdoor events and limits the number of participants in non-profit bike rides to 600 at the request of the police department.
The board reconsidered the application for the triathlon after Event Power named the Greenport non-profit Community Action Southold Town a sponsor.
SEE ALSO: Photos from last year’s triathlon
Organizers said that nearly $10,000 would be donated if the event could go on.
During Tuesday’s work session, Supervisor Scott Russell expressed hesitancy with overturning the board’s decision, stating that the town already approved 10 similar events within the past month.
“I have a hard time turning down popular events, but we didn’t adopt this policy to solicited donations,” he said.
Other board members saw it differently, saying the event was beloved by the community and that CAST’s sponsorship put the triathlon in compliance with the policy.
“The neighbors love having it,” Councilwoman Jill Doherty said.
They voted 4-1 in favor of event with Supervisor Scott Russell casting the only ‘no’ vote and Councilman Bill Ruland recusing himself.
The 16th annual Mighty North Fork Triathlon is scheduled for July 13.
