Public celebration Jan. 18 for StoryWalks opening
All are invited to a family-friendly event at Wildwood Park scheduled for Jan. 18, 2025, at 11 a.m., celebrating the opening of new, interactive StoryWalks in Greenville. This grand opening at Wildwood Park will include a ribbon-cutting, light refreshments and interactive activities for kids in attendance.
A StoryWalk® is an outdoor activity that combines reading and physical activity, giving participants the opportunity to read large pages of a book while enjoying a walking trail.
This project was led by East Carolina University Academic Library Services, in collaboration with Greenville Recreation and Parks, the Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library and children’s librarians at Farmville Public Library. Story panels are being installed at Wildwood Park and Greensprings Park, featuring books in English and Spanish.
“I believe the StoryWalks will provide a unique opportunity for children to delight in literature, explore language and appreciate the natural world,” said Laura Bright, collection strategist and assessment librarian. “The featured stories will include some timeless titles that are familiar to many generations, as well as exciting contemporary children’s books. I hope our community enjoys visiting these special places for many years.”
Bright and Eryn Staib, student engagement and outreach specialist, represent ECU Libraries as co-principal investigators. Installation and programming supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provision of the federal Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina.
“I’ve always had a love of parks and was grateful to be able to partner with Greenville Recreation and Parks, and other libraries, on this project,” Staib said. “I’m excited to see the community at our grand opening event at Wildwood Park and hope local caregivers and children will continue to enjoy reading our stories at Wildwood Park and Greensprings Park.”
Jan Lewis, ECU Joyner Library director and president of the Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library, said this community-engaged collaboration promotes literacy and healthy activities.
“StoryWalks encourage parents, caregivers and children to actively share a powerful children’s book while enjoying fun activities related to the story,” Lewis said. “These StoryWalks focus on cultural inclusion, environmental education, family relationships and healthy habits. We are thrilled through this partnership among Joyner Library, the city of Greenville Recreation and Parks Department, the Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library and the children’s librarians at Farmville Public Library to help bring StoryWalks to Greenville. These interactive experiences not only promote literacy and a love for reading, but also foster community engagement and healthy outdoor activities. We are proud to support initiatives that bring families together and celebrate cultural diversity through these bilingual storytelling opportunities.”
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.