StoryWalk® at the Parklands
Storywalk® at the ParklandsRead a favorite children’s book while taking a stroll around the park
They say learning through play is the best way, sprinkle in a little exercise and some quality time and we truly have an afternoon full of real family fun.
StoryWalk at the Parklands is free and fun to do with your young children. Spread across 4,000 acres of land, there are 4 parks that make up The Parklands, a public park system in Louisville, KY. A fan favorite is Beckley Creek Park boasting endless fun for families.
Egg Lawn, nestled right in the center of the park, hosts StoryWalk at the Parklands, a super cool concept that was designed to get families to enjoy nature as well as reading and writing. “The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.”
You may have seen the large colored banner that stood tall on Egg Lawn- right by The Barklands dog park and Creekside Playground. This is the starting point that begins the journey of a fantastic adventure.
NEXT EVENT: April 26-28, 2024, 8am-9pm
Local friends have enjoyed reading several books over the past year as they walk around the park. “A Mouthful of Minions” by John Hare is the book for April.
During the .7 mile loop you will find individual pages from the book selected for StoryWalk at the Parklands blown up and laminated for you to read as you enjoy your stroll around Egg Lawn. Each page had an activity or fun fact to enhance learning on the back of each post.
I enjoyed our walk with my 5 year old as we pointed out sight words, sounded out new words and learned so many fascinating things about animals living in and around ponds. He would excitedly run to the next page where we would take turns reading aloud. We spent about 45 minutes together exploring nature on the way and admiring the visitors relaxing on the lawn. By the end of the story he was definitely ready to head to the playground and run around but it was in the car, on the way home, that he shared that this was one of his most favorite days. Maybe it was the StoryWalk®, or maybe it was the person flying a giant kite in the middle of Egg Lawn or perhaps it was the time we spent together uninterrupted by screens that allowed for such a wonderful day.
Whatever the reason, I was grateful for our time and encourage you to experience the same. Mark your calendars and head to the Parklands February 10-12th as the winter StoryWalk® kicks off this year- a wonderful tradition the whole family can enjoy.
The park boasts many events and activities for the whole family. Wee Wednesday Wonders for the kiddos or the Walking Club are great options for all. You can visit their webpage to read more. And of course, don’t forget to pack some snacks, a jacket and your camera because you will definitely want to spend some time at Creekside Playground while you are there. Learn more about the play area here.
StoryWalks® are currently enjoyed in 50 states and 13 countries and I am so glad we live in a city where we can enjoy such a wonderful idea. I hope StoryWalks® continue for a long time and I can’t wait to see what story they choose next. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 23-25, 2024 for the NEXT event so you can forever be a part of a wonderful movement that encourages literacy, family and nature. Keep tabs on their website for future dates if you cannot go this month.
Looking for more outdoor fun? Click here.
