Playground at Butler-Rodman Park in Alliance adds storybook trail

Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository
·2 min read
Butler-Rodman Park in Alliance opened "Story Walk" lane near the playground in 2023. The path, with 20 stations, features a book, which changes monthly, from the Rodman Public Library.
Butler-Rodman Park in Alliance opened "Story Walk" lane near the playground in 2023. The path, with 20 stations, features a book, which changes monthly, from the Rodman Public Library.

ALLIANCE ‒ A group of stakeholders cut the ribbon on a new storybook trail at Butler-Rodman Park on Friday.

The 20-station trail called Butler-Rodman Story Walk circles the playground and is lined with pages from a children's book chosen by Rodman Public Library. The book will change monthly.

The first book is "Bella's Fall Coat" by Lynn Plourde.

Officials, who attended the ceremony, included Rodman Public Library Director Eric Taggart, Parks Director Kim Cox, Park Board President Harry Paidas, Alliance Mayor Andy Grove and Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce President Rick Baxter.

Abigail Jenkins of Stark County Health Department opens Story Walk at Alliance's Butler-Rodman Park. Pictured also: Alliance Mayor Andy Grove, Rodman Public Library Director Eric Taggart, Parks Director Kim Cox & Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce President Rick Baxter.
Abigail Jenkins of Stark County Health Department opens Story Walk at Alliance's Butler-Rodman Park. Pictured also: Alliance Mayor Andy Grove, Rodman Public Library Director Eric Taggart, Parks Director Kim Cox & Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce President Rick Baxter.

Abigail Jenkins, Creating Health Communities health educator for Stark County Health Department, cut the ribbon. She helped get the state grant that funded the entire $14,000 joint project at Butler-Rodman.

Rodman Public Library, Friends of Rodman Public Library, Alliance Parks and Recreation, Stark County Creating Health Communities and the county's Health Department partnered in this venture.

There are at least 50 similar trails in Ohio, including North Canton and Perry Township.

"This project was super exciting for me," Jenkins said, "because not only does it increase opportunities for physical activity within the community of Alliance that everyone can use and visitors, but it also increases health literacy and literacy in general."

The new Butler-Rodman "Story Walk" lane formally opened Oct. 13, 2023, with a ceremony. The path, with 20 stations, features a book from the Rodman Public Library. Each station contains a page or two from a book. The selection of book will change monthly.
The new Butler-Rodman "Story Walk" lane formally opened Oct. 13, 2023, with a ceremony. The path, with 20 stations, features a book from the Rodman Public Library. Each station contains a page or two from a book. The selection of book will change monthly.

Cox said Butler-Rodman was chosen because it had appropriate space around the playground. The crew in her department installed the stations. The library provided the book.

"Any way we can share stories is really positive," Taggart said.

Added Cox: "I feel like projects when entities work together seem to be more successful, and I'm happy to be able to say that we have a story walk trail."

Jenkins said she is trying to get the Alliance trail added to the Ohio Department of Natural Resource list of storybook trails.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance's Story Walk at Butler-Rodman Park open for learning