By KATLYN PROCTOR
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Shady Pines Loop Trail at Moody Park just got a little more playful thanks to the addition of a Story Walk, pages of a children’s picture book now dotting the trail on weatherized posts.
The Fiske Free Library helped with book selection, the Parks and Recreation Department provided the location, and the Claremont Elks lodge worked with the Claremont MakerSpace and John Lambert to build Story Walk book holders using part of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant.
“This project is a shining example of what happens when community, creativity, and collaboration come together for a common purpose — in this case, encouraging both literacy and movement from our children,” said Claremont Mayor Dale Girard during opening remarks of a formal ribbon cutting for the Story Walk. “It’s fun, it’s active, and most importantly, it brings the joy of reading into the great outdoors.”
Dozens were in attendance among the trees at the trailhead near the new Story Walk sign, made by Claremont Elks Lodge Member Rob Bly. Claremont’s Citizen of the Year and Elks Lodge Grant Coordinator Tina Bergeron addressed the crowd, getting emotional over her excitement of the project’s reality.
“We were able to create the Story Walk with lots of help from the community,” said Bergeron. “First the Claremont Elks Lodge applied for a grant through the Elks National Foundation and were approved to use the Gratitude Grant for this project. We then went to the Fiske Free Library where the children’s librarian, Martha Woods, was able to give us a lot of guidance on Story Walks.”
She went on to explain how Parks & Recreation and the Claremont MakerSpace also helped bring the project to life.
“We know we would need help to build the Story Walk, as purchasing them was not in our budget. The Claremont MakerSpace was up for the challenge and their Wood Shop Leader John Lambert was able to come up with a great design and built the 10 posts. We cannot thank them enough,” Bergeron added. “We then worked with Justin Martin at Claremont Parks & Recreation to come up with the perfect place to put the Story Walk in the community.”
The ribbon cutting event was hosted by the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce and included the notorious large pair of scissors, which Claremont Elks Lodge’s Exalted Ruler Todd Abbey cut the ribbon with, surrounded by children waiting to check out the new Story Walk.
Kids of all ages left the event with a free nature book.
For more information, visit facebook.com/ClaremontParks.
