Cuyahoga Falls adds StoryWalk to Lions Park

Mayor Don Walters and Library Director Andrew Harant at the Lions Park StoryWalk in Cuyahoga Falls. Photos courtesy of the Cuyahoga Falls Library

CUYAHOGA FALLS — Mayor Don Walters and the City of Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Cuyahoga Falls Library, showcased the addition of a StoryWalk to Lions Park during a ceremony inauguration on October 3.
A StoryWalk is a self-directed activity that allows people to read an illustrated children’s book presented in stages along a short outdoor path.
Developed by Anne Ferguson in collaboration with the Keller-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont, the StoryWalk was designed for children and their caregivers to promote early literacy, movement, and foster a connection to nature.
Surrounded by an outdoor installation designed to hold the pages of a book, the story unfolds page by page, offering families and visitors of all ages the opportunity to read and stroll together while enjoying panoramic views of the park.
To create the StoryWalk, the Parks and Recreation Department installed weather-resistant supports along the path from the Lions Lodge to the playground. The Cuyahoga Falls Library has mounted picture book pages at each station.
“Our newest StoryWalk is a wonderful addition to Lions Park and offers families another way to enjoy reading and the outdoors together,” Walters said. “I want to thank the Cuyahoga Falls Library and Parks and Recreation Department for their continued commitment to improving our community through unique and engaging programming.”
StoryWalk’s current selection is “Leaves,” by David Ezra Stein, a fall story for families of all ages. Library staff will update the book selection seasonally so the community can incorporate reading into their park visit.
“We were thrilled when Parks and Recreation offered us the opportunity to prepare selections for the Lions Park StoryWalk,” said Andrew Harant, director of the Cuyahoga Falls Library. “This is such a natural collaboration and a perfect intersection between the library’s values ​​of access and innovation and the mission of our city’s beautiful parks.” This opportunity is a new way for us to engage with our community through an activity that promotes early literacy, movement and family time in nature.
StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Since their inception, StoryWalks have been used in every state in the United States and around the world.
Visit the Cuyahoga Falls StoryWalk at Lions Park, 641 Silver Lake Ave.