Kiwanis Club Of SouthShore Oversees StoryWalk In Ruskin
By Linda Chion – September 6, 2024
The second of two StoryWalk locations in Southeastern Hillsborough County held a celebratory ribbon-cutting in Ruskin in August, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of SouthShore.
The August 10 ceremony, at the Ruskin Park & Recreation Center, heralded the grand opening of the fourth of five Hillsborough StoryWalk locations.
Designed to encourage literacy and exercise for young children, StoryWalk is family-friendly experience with sign installations featuring the pages of books to be read at stops along an outdoor walking path.
Launched two years ago in Hillsborough by the Kiwanis Club of Tampa at Al Lopez Park, the effort has been spearheaded by Kiwanian Amanda Malinowski, who then worked to secure a $70,000 grant from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County for expansion to other locations.
The Ruskin ribbon-cutting in August followed the June 15 ribbon-cutting for the Kiwanis StoryWalk in Seffner, maintained by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon. It’s at Seffner Comm“UNITY” Park and Gardens, adjacent to the Seffner-Mango Branch Library. Additional StoryWalk locations are in Carrollwood Park Village and Rowlett Park in Sulphur Springs.
Every month, StoryWalk features a new book for children ages 3-7.