One Joplin is thrilled to announce a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a new story installation at Leonard Park on February 27, 2025, at 3:30 in Leonard Park, 408 Turk Avenue, Joplin.
The new story, Run, Oscar, Run! by Kelley Donner is offered through a partnership between One Joplin, Joplin Family YMCA, and Joplin Parks and Recreation. According to Nicole Brown, Executive Director of One Joplin, “The Leonard Park StoryWalk® is an incredible installation, the permanent holders follow a paved, scenic path through the park. It is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while making reading fun for the whole family. We hope to change out the stories on a quarterly basis and are looking for additional community partners to make that possible”
Jessica Pommert, Co-Chair of the One Joplin Education and Literacy Team shared, “We selected this story because it is very interactive and encourages families to engage with park amenities in the narrative. For example, one page instructs readers to make a lap around the nearest tree before moving to the next page. We are so thankful for the YMCA’s support. How fitting that the YMCA is our sponsor for this new story!”
Run, Oscar, Run! by Kelley Donner will be on display at Leonard Park through April. Families interested in exploring additional StoryWalks® are encouraged to visit the Joplin Public Library installation. Christina Matekel-Gibson, Co-Chair of the One Joplin Education and Literacy Team and Children’s Librarian at the Joplin Public Library, shared, “The One Joplin Education and Literacy Team is working together to install additional permanent StoryWalks® throughout the community. It is a great opportunity to encourage families to be outdoors and a positive step towards lifetime learning ”
“One Joplin facilitates communication and collaboration in the community to meet needs in Education, Literacy, Health, and Poverty. The StoryWalk is a great example of community partners seeing and meeting a need. The previous story had been in place for several years and needed an update. We hope to switch out the stories quarterly in the future.” explained Nicole Brown, Executive Director of One Joplin.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
For further information contact Nicole Brown at Director@OneJoplin.com or 417-726-9123.
