The Jackson County Imagination Library has introduced storybook elements to the Periwinkle Trail located across the street from Wildwood Resort.
Library Chairman John Deane said the library, Army Corp of Engineers, Friends of Cordell Hull Lake and the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation collaborated to add onto the existing trail. Deane said the library was looking for opportunities to engage more local children in the magic of reading.
“The storybook trail captured our imagination as a terrific way, a physical manifestation of a storybook on a trail, that would engage kids and their parents in reading and nature,” Deane said.
Deane said four years ago less than 40 percent of the children eligible for the program in the county were signed up, receiving mandated books from birth to age 5.
“We felt that it was important that we take steps to not only ensure that there was funding for the books for the kids that were signed up, but that dramatically expand the number of kids that are eligible to be signed up,” Deane said.
Deane said the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation donated $4,000 toward the trail, contributing 80 percent of the total funding for the project. Deane said the funds covered the cost of the 17 stands stretching a quarter mile of the Periwinkle trail, holding the book pages.
Deane said the project was a team effort. Deane said the Army Corp of Engineers contributed cement and 4×4 lumber to place the stands onto. Deane said the Friends of Cordell Hall Lake gathered volunteers to complete the work and provided supportive funds alongside the library for the printing of the storybook pages.
Deane said Wildwood Resort donated a portion of the parking lot for those who want to use the trail, as the lot is located across the road from the trail.
“Parents and children, families, can now have a destination,” Deane said. “They can hop in the car, drive to Wildwood, park in the upper lot, carefully cross the street, cause there is some traffic there and then, you know, enjoy the Periwinkle Trail.”
Deane said the Army Corp has a grant program funding another storybook trail with the library and Friends of Cordell Hull Lake in Roaring River Park.