A new experience for blending reading, family connections and time spent moving outdoors will officially launch on April 16 in the City of Henderson’s Atkinson Park.
Created by Henderson County Public Library in partnership with Henderson Parks and recreation, the community is getting its first official StoryWalk, an interactive experience that is now located on the RiverWalk.
It begins at the RiverWalk’s north trailhead at the plaza near Hays Boat Ramp and continues along the path to near the plaza at the corner of Merritt Drive and 12th Street.
Families can walk the path and read a children’s story one page at a time as they walk together and enjoy the great outdoors.
A ribbon-cutting for the StoryWalk will take place at 4 p.m. on April 16, and in addition to official remarks will include a visit from The Balloon Man and Kona Ice.
The location for the event is the large Atkinson Park picnic shelter in combo with the walk-through shelter near the big playground. Parking is located near the big shelter and also the sand volleyball court.
The first StoryWalk was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, in 2007 and developed into a collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library there. It is a registered service owned by Ms. Ferguson.
StoryWalk now exists across the U.S. and worldwide in 13 countries including Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea, and they are located in downtown areas, parks, nature trails and many other venues.
HCPL Children’s Librarian Danielle Anguish said since she first heard of the concept of blending literacy with physical activity she’d been interested.
“It’s always been something I wanted to do,” she said, “and I’m very happy we can do it now. It’s something that’s fun, doesn’t cost people anything and gets them into the parks and into nature.”
During the COVID pandemic when the library was closed, the staff offered something similar as a temporary installment with three rotating stories that inspired people to get out of isolation and move around outdoors. Some people walked it and some used it as a drive-by opportunity when they were looking for something to do.
That project, which was in partnership with Henderson County Schools and Housing Authority of Henderson, was reported on in the American Library Association’s magazine. Feedback from participants was strong, which solidified the local interest in the StoryWalk — Let’s Move in Libraries official program.
“Everybody loved them, especially during COVID, because it gave them a reason to be outside,” Anguish said.
One benefit is that it can appeal to families who, for whatever the reason, feel intimidated about going into the library.
“Some people don’t think the library is for them,” Anguish said. “This takes stories outside and makes people realize that this is a library for everyone.”
The StoryWalk website of Kellogg Hubbard Library lists these benefits of the program:
- It provides early literacy opportunities to young children. Sharing a story while walking helps develop listening and speaking skills.
- Children and their families can read the book together then discuss the text, illustrations and meaning of a great book. StoryWalk book themes include: kindness, anyone can make a difference in someone else’s life, a love for nature, accepting differences and more.
- It makes the library more visible to the community and may be a gateway for people to come to the library.
Anguish said the first book in Henderson’s new StoryWalk is already in place. It’s “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury and is a national bestseller.
She said she expects for the story to change about every six weeks, though it might be less frequent during the colder winter months.
Next up is “Look! There Are No Dinos Inside of This Book,” which she said will coordinate with this year’s Summer Reading Program.
For more information: https://www.hcpl.org/event/storywalk-ribbon-cutting-celebration-16606
Share your own StoryWalk adventures by using: #HCPLStoryWalk
