StoryWalk Comes to Paloma Community Park New event brings together reading and recreation in a creative way for kids

On Saturday, October 9, the city of Peoria will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Paloma Community Park to welcome StoryWalk to NW Peoria. Children of all ages can see their favorite stories come to life in the park.

Developed in 2007 by Anne Ferguson, in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, StoryWalk is an innovative way for children to read and play outdoors at the same time. Typically, laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to wooden stakes or metal stands and installed along an outdoor path. As individuals stroll down the trail, they are directed to the next page in the story and to do a related activity. StoryWalks have been installed in 50 states and 13 countries.

“Helping our children acquire a love of reading is a gift that lasts a lifetime,” says Mayor Cathy Carlat. “StoryWalk is a wonderfully creative way to infuse literacy with outdoor play and I am thrilled to see this library programming introduced at two of Peoria’s most cherished outdoor spaces.”

With the help of a grant from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the city of Peoria will be the fourth city in the Valley to have StoryWalks. In addition to Paloma Community Park, the city is also welcoming a StoryWalk at Pioneer Community Park.

Peoria will be launching two StoryWalks on October 9: “I Am Peace” by Susan Verde at Pioneer Community Park at 9 a.m. and “From Head to Toe” by Eric Carle at Paloma Community Park at 10:30 a.m. Mayor Carlat will share some remarks and then librarians will lead residents through the StoryWalks.

“By collaborating with our parks and recreation team, we were able to create a unique experience for Peoria families that encourages physical activity and literacy,” says Peoria Library Manager Nathaniel Washburn.
For more information, including more event details, visit peoriaaz.gov/library.
Paloma Park is located at 29799 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway and is open from daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. For those unable to attend the StoryWalk event on October 9, you can still visit the park and see the story anytime when the park is open to the public.