Kiwanis’ New ‘StoryWalk’ In Seffner Encourages Family Literacy And Exercise
By Linda Chion – July 15, 2024
Imagine a public library next to a 24-acre park that includes a walking trail lined with displays that bring to life a child’s book, then visit the Seffner Comm“UNITY” Park and Gardens for a ‘StoryWalk’ experience maintained by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon.
That’s where kids and adults gathered on June 15 for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the third of five StoryWalk locations in Hillsborough County, an expansion funded by a $70,000 emerging need grant through the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. The grant is for Kiwanis StoryWalk locations in Seffner, Carrollwood Village Park and, coming soon, Ruskin and Sulphur Springs.
The funding follows the grand opening two years ago of StoryWalk at Al Lopez Park in Tampa, funded by the Kiwanis Club of Tampa and spearheaded by club member and Kiwanian Amanda Malinowski.
“The goal of this project is to bring books to where kids are, make reading fun and put it in a new environment where families can read and walk and be active and work on their literacy skills,” Malinowski said. “We want kids to love books and that’s our goal.”
