Explore: Raintree Park and the New “Storybook Trail” in Troy
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 25, 2020)
Troy, MI- The Friends of the Troy Library have found a way to make the quaint .75 mile paved walking path at Raintree Park even more engaging – by turning it into a “Storybook Trail.”
Starting at the first station near the play structure, kids (and adults) can read pages of a children’s story as they stroll – with posts every few feet sharing a new page.  The idea is to change the book every 4-6 weeks, with a longer time during the winter.
“Our first book Max the Brave by Ed Vere was chosen because it is a fun and silly story about a cat who wants to be a mouse catcher, but doesn’t know what a mouse looks like,” said Keegan Sulecki, Head of Youth Services at the Troy Public Library.
“As part of the Storybook Trail we offer suggestions for activities between each page/post to keep families engaged. Max the Brave was a great option for suggesting story-related activities, such as ‘walk like an elephant’ and ‘make your best monster face.’”
The next book will be installed at the beginning of November and it will be A Fall Ball for All by Jamie A. Swenson and illustrated by Chiara Fedele.
Sulecki worked with the Friends group, who provided the funding, and with the City of Troy Parks Department to make the project possible.  “Not only did the Parks Department allow us to install the Storybook Trail in the beautiful Raintree Park location, but they did all the work of installing the posts. This project would not have been possible without these collaborations,” Sulecki said.  “Raintree Park is a beautiful park that is enjoyed by many people in the Troy community. It features a paved trail loop of approximately 3/4 of a mile so families will find themselves back near the parking lot and playground when the story is done. It is an easy walk and stroller accessible. Part of the trail is in a forested area so there is a great opportunity for families to enjoy nature during their visit.”
Sue Matthews, Board Chair of the Friends said of the trail, “Bringing a function of the Library outside to the children of Troy when they are unable to visit in person allows everyone to focus on literacy in a fun and engaging way.”
Keep up-to-date on the trail by visiting: https://troypl.org/storybook_trail/index.php
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Be sure to check out our Places to Explore list. Some are accessible during the crisis, and others may be an inspiration for down the road.