 Green Cove Springs, FL – If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity for families, visit Spring Park in Green Cove Springs. Clay County’s first StoryWalk® was recently installed at the park through a partnership with the Clay County Public Library System and the City of Green Cove Springs.
A StoryWalk® provides opportunities for the whole family to play and learn together by combining two great things: spending time outdoors and reading. A children’s picture book is dismantled, and its pages are placed in frames along a path or trail. Families will read and talk about the story as they enjoy time together outdoors. Each page of the StoryWalk® includes interactive reading activities with questions, discussion ideas, and physical activities to help children engage with the story and their environment.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funded this innovative project to create outdoor activities for small groups that encourage physical distancing. Clay County Public Libraries provided the books and printed materials, and the City of Green Cove Springs provided the location. Page one of Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson and Claudia Dávila will start at the playground and the reader will finish the story near the park entrance on Walnut Street.
Lynn Capps, Assistant Director of Programs, Activities, and Outreach with Clay County Public Libraries, explained, “COVID-19 drastically reduced opportunities for children and families to gather in libraries. This meant families had fewer options for free, easily accessible early literacy education. The StoryWalk® program aims to address that need in an outdoor, physically distanced setting. It promotes reading, encourages physical activity, and showcases the beautiful green spaces in Clay County.”
Green Cove Springs City Manager Steve Kennedy said, “We’re honored to work with Clay County Public Libraries and to provide the space for this interactive reading experience that all families can enjoy.”
Additional StoryWalks® will soon be ready in Orange Park, Keystone Heights, and at Camp Chowenwaw in Green Cove Springs. Each StoryWalk® will have a new story every three months. Clay County Commissioner Mike Cella said, “Clay County Public Libraries have taken this opportunity to create a fun family experience at four area parks by incorporating stories along the trails. This unique outdoor experience will also encourage return visits to the parks so families can see what story will be featured next.”
Follow Clay County Public Libraries on Facebook @ClayCtyLibrary for future locations and completion dates. The Clay County StoryWalk® project began with a brainstorming session in June of 2020, and the final StoryWalk® will be in place by the end of the year.
StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and was developed with the help of Rachel Senechal with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Learn more about the program here: https://www.kellogghubbard.org/storywalk.
 |
|
Katie Jackson enjoying the StoryWalk® in Spring Park with her daughter Lea.
|
###
Clay County, FL is located southwest of Jacksonville and nestled along the beautiful St. Johns River. More than 219,000 residents enjoy a quality of life here that meets their desired pace and unique interests. Clay County has a business community that is 4,400 strong. Industries leading in information technology, manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, aviation and defense, and logistics and distribution are here to serve you. Clay County welcomes you to enjoy the exquisite natural beauty, unique history, and the small town feel only found here.
|
