StoryWalk experience enlivens a stroll along Swaner Preserve

Photo: StoryWalk will feature a new book every three months. (TownLift photo)

PARK CITY, Utah – Strolling along the rec path that edges Swaner Preserve just got a little more interesting thanks to StoryWalk, an enlivened story-reading experience put on by Summit County Library and Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter.

The StoryWalk begins outside the EcoCenter on the building’s south side and continues south along the paved recreation path. Each page of the illustrated story book that’s featured is fixed to the fence that edges the preserve, spaced a few hundred feet apart, to encourage a leisurely walk. In between pages, beautiful views of the stream and mountain backdrop can be taken in.

“Our hopes for this project was to give people a way to engage with the Preserve through observation and wonder and connect people with the natural world through stories,”  Bri Cencak, Visitor Experience Coordinator at Swaner, said.

Cenak said that the story will change every three months or so to align with changes in the seasons. Some future ideas for StoryWalk include books about pollinators, wetland habitats, and animal tracking. All of the StoryWalk books will be presented in both English and Spanish.

The current StoryWalk is “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. The next story featured will be a Spring-related story about plants and bees.