GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County’s first StoryWalk is here.

Spring Park in Green Cove Springs, in conjunction with the Clay Public Library system, has recently emplaced the StoryWalk for the enjoyment of park patrons.

According to the StoryWalk website, “A StoryWalk is a way to combine physical activity with literacy; this may seem like an odd mix, but it’s an innovative way to get people of all ages out walking while reading children’s picture books. Pages of a book are transformed into signs that are then laid out on a trail inviting families, children, caregivers, teachers and others to follow the path of pages.”

The 20-page story, Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson and illustrated by Claudia Davila, begins just outside of the playground area in the park and continues around the walking path and past the bottom of the spring before ending at the top of the stairs. Each stop along the walk has one page of the story in a mounted glass case. The path allows children to get out, practice and develop an enjoyment for reading, all the while encouraging social distancing.

“COVID-19 drastically reduced opportunities for children and families to gather in libraries,” said Lynn Capps, Assistant Director of Programs, Activities, and Outreach with Clay County Public 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.”

“I walked through with Zaylee, my daughter,” said Josie Byrne of the Storywalk. “She really liked it. She liked watching the pictures and like doing all the things that the little girl was doing.”

Funding for the project was provided by the CARES Act. Clay County Public Libraries provided the books.

This StoryWalk is the first of its kind in the county, but more are coming. Future locations include Orange Park and Keystone Heights.

The location of Spring Park was decided on by the city of Green Cove Springs.

For many, including Byrne, the StoryWalk in Spring Park is the first that they have experienced. “It was the first time I’ve ever seen it,” said Byrne. “It’s super cute.”