Winchester Church of Christ in Christian Union receives funding for Storybook Trail
More families will experience the joy of reading and the great outdoors as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced awards of more than $34,000 in grants for new Storybook Trails.
“Reading is a priority in Ohio, and I am excited that we continue building more Storybook Trails, so that Ohioans have more places they can read a book outside,” Ohio first lady Fran DeWine said. “We love taking our grandkids to the Storybook Trails around Ohio, and they light up seeing the stories come to life, as we walk the trail.”
Four Storybook Trail Grants will be awarded through the Recreational Trails Program. The grants are to be used for trail and trailhead construction or maintenance and interpretive signage for a Storybook Trail.
The following municipalities and organizations were chosen to receive the grants:
• Winchester Church of Christ in Christian Union (Winchester)
Winchester Storybook Trail
Total grant amount: $10,000.
• City of Lakewood
Kauffman Park Story Walk and Madison Park Story Walk
Total grant amount: $10,000.
• Village of Somerset
Somerset Memorial Park
Total grant amount: $8,160.
• City of Rocky River
Linden Park Storybook Walkway
Total grant amount: $6,000.
Storybook Trails feature pages of a children’s book along an outdoor trail.
“We know how important it is for kids to get out to experience nature and everything the great outdoors has to offer,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “These grants help us team up with local partners to achieve that goal by creating more Storybook Trails which have been proven to be a big success around the state.”
The Recreational Trails Program is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to 80-percent project funding. This grant program is federally funded and is administered by the ODNR in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
ODNR launched its Storybook Trail program in 2019 to promote the importance of literacy, a healthy lifestyle and connecting with nature. There are currently 21 Storybook Trails at Ohio State Parks located in every corner of the state.
ODNR partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio to provide story content for several of their trails and raise awareness of these valuable resources for Ohio families. The Imagination Library provides one free book every month to children enrolled in the program from birth to age 5. To learn more about the program and how to participate, visit OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
Ohio is lucky to be filled with Storybook Trails created by all types of park and library districts across the state. Use our interactive map of Storybook Trails in Ohio to learn more about the trails and where you can find them at https://dx-stg.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/family-friendly/s….
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.