The City of Grants Pass Parks & Recreation Department has successfully introduced its first-ever StoryWalk installations, featuring two bilingual stories, at Reinhart Volunteer Park and Redwood Park. This new initiative aims to boost both physical activity and literacy, offering a unique and educational outdoor experience for families.
The StoryWalk project sets up a series of 16 reading stations along a walking path, where pages from a storybook are displayed, combining the joy of reading with a healthy walk through the park. “StoryWalk is a wonderful way for adults and their young children or grandchildren to combine literacy skills and healthy exercise,” said Park Superintendent Josh Hopkins. He emphasized how this project creates an enriching and free activity for homeschool, playgroup, and after-school families.
The first two StoryWalk installations feature Emma and the Bees at Reinhart Volunteer Park and Hipo No Nada at Redwood Park. Emma and the Bees tells the tale of a curious girl who embarks on a magical journey into the world of bees, while Hipo No Nada follows a hippo overcoming his fear of water in a heartwarming story about courage.
These StoryWalks are accessible during normal park hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and are open to all Josephine County residents and visitors. The community is encouraged to bring their walking shoes, enjoy the fresh air, and engage with these creative stories in the picturesque settings of Reinhart Volunteer and Redwood Parks.
