StoryWalk display on Emerald TrailStoryWalk display on Emerald Trail
StoryWalk displays have been added to the LaVilla section of the Emerald Trail. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today

A storybook link is added to Emerald Trail

Published on December 12, 2024 at 3:02 pm
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Another feature of Jacksonville’s 30-mile Emerald Trail is now open. 

A new StoryWalk along the LaVilla section of the trail will feature 20 mounted displays of pages from children’s picture books. The intent of the rotating installations is to bring stories (and literacy) to families walking the trail.

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Baptist Health, Groundwork Jacksonville and the library foundation are behind the new StoryWalk project.

Claire Olson, community projects manager with the Jacksonville Public Library, said they’ve chosen well-loved books (like the Flower Garden). She described what people will see along the pathway.

“This is the actual page of the book,” Olson said at an unveiling Thursday. “We actually deconstruct the book through this process to be in line with copyright, and we use the actual pages. So this is Katherine Hewitt who did these beautiful illustrations in the Flower Garden.” 

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The trail connects historic urban neighborhoods to Downtown, the St. Johns River and other waterways.  

Multiple sections have already been opened between the Prime Osborn Convention Center and LaVilla. The StoryWalk is near the butterfly garden on Johnson Street between West Church and West Duval sStreets, part of the 1.3-mile LaVilla link of the trail.


author image Reporter and Radio Reading Service Manager email Michelle Corum is a reporter who previously served as Morning Edition host at WJCT for a dozen years. She’s worked in public radio in Kansas and Michigan, had her stories heard on NPR, and garnered newscast recognition by Florida AP Broadcasters. She also oversees WJCT's Radio Reading Service for the blind. Michelle brings corporate communication experience from metro D.C. and holds a master's degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree from Troy University.

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