CITY UNVEILS NEW STORYWALK
Take a walk, read a story. That’s the concept of Georgetown’s newest StoryWalk at San Gabriel Park that brings a book to life with every step.
Georgetown’s StoryWalk began as a pilot project in 2022 when library staff Bethni King and Courtney Butler set out to bring an interactive reading experience to San Gabriel Park. Inspired by The StoryWalk Project – created in 2007 by Vermont resident Anne Ferguson in collaboration with the Kellogg Hubbard Library – they introduced the concept to the community, hoping to combine literacy with outdoor exploration.
“We did temporary StoryWalks in several different parks until one day, the temporary installation went missing so we thought we needed to go for something more permanent,” Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett says.
Thanks to funding from the Friends of the Georgetown Parks and Recreation, and Friends of the Georgetown Public Library, the city unveiled its first permanent StoryWalk along the scenic Randy Morrow Trail. With 20 display signs featuring Anne Marie Pace’s Busy-Eyed Day at the Park — a fitting story about kids having a fun day at the park — the installation invites visitors to read the book as they walk, bike, or jog along the path. “I love StoryWalks because I love an activity that encourages people to get outside and feel that you can love reading anywhere you are,” Library Director Sally Miculek says. “It’s not an indoor activity, it’s not a sitting activity, it can be active.”
“We hope this inspires everyone to get out in the community and find connections between nature and reading.” ~ Parks and Recreation Director KIMBerly Garrett
FAMILY FUN
For many parents, the park’s newest addition is the perfect mix of activity and literacy. “I told our mom’s group, ‘Guys, we have to do this one!’ ” Stefani Gilbert says. “We do story time at the library, but our kids are starting to walk now and they’re wanting something more active.”
Jennifer Furtado agrees, saying, “It’s a really neat idea because kids can burn off some energy while still engaging with a story.” One of these young readers, Kabeer, was fully absorbed in the literary adventure. “Are you having fun reading the story?” his mom Misbah asks him. “Yes!” he shouts before dashing off to check out the next page.
Sakthi Baur, who attended the ribbon cutting with her kids, Violet and Everett, was just as delighted with the nature-meets-books experience. “I like that it’s a fun activity for us to do outdoors. I’ve heard of StoryWalks before, but this is the first one we’ve been to – it’s such a neat idea!”
STORYBOOK STROLL
Visitors can check out San Gabriel Park’s StoryWalk that starts at 310 E. Randy Morrow Trail, a half-mile round trip designed to be walked from east to west. With new books rotating throughout the year, Sally says, the installation will hopefully be the first of several permanent StoryWalks at the park.