Murrysville library, recreation department partner on wetlands 'Storywalk'

As Murrysville Community Library staff prepares to reopen the library for appointments on Monday, Aug.3, its members are also thinking about ways to utilize outdoor space and begin hosting in-person programs for patrons, as dictated by health and safety guidelines.

One of the first, which patrons can do on their own, is the “Storywalk” in Murrysville Community Park’s wetlands area.

Beginning at the Mayor Dorothy Pack Pavilion, families can wind along a wetlands trail and not only observe nature, but read a hilariously bizarre take on the classic “Three Little Pigs” story. “The Three Ninja Pigs,” by Corey Rosen Schwartz, is mounted page by page on laminated posterboard along the trail. The trail starts just west of the dog park off of Wiestertown Road.

“This is an idea that’s been around, but not one we’ve done before,” said library youth services coordinator Carol Siefken. “It’s with the notion that we want children to continue having healthy exercise and, along the way, read a story.”

They can also read about the importance of the wetlands area and the wildlife that calls it home, thanks to informational plaques placed along the trail.

The project is a collaboration between the library and the Murrysville Recreation Department.

“(Director) Carly Greene and (program coordinator) Amy Wengrzyn had a lot of those metal ‘H’ posts in their storage, and we always like to partner with them when we can,” Siefken said. “There’s a lot of potential here, to have some teaching moments along the trail for kids to think about.”

Siefken said she’d also like to create a holiday “Storywalk” during the Christmas season.

Library Executive Director Amy Riegner said that as dictated by the progression of the covid-19 pandemic, she’d like to explore options for outdoor activities.

“We’ve been in discussions with the municipality about using the (Murrysville Soccer Field) pavilion,” Riegner said. “And we’re also looking into getting our own gazebo or canopy-like structure so we can host some outdoor programming to complement all the virtual programming we’re doing at the moment.”

Siefken said library staff is also working on a program encouraging patrons to visit local historic sites, and she relishes the idea of children’s programs in the open air.

“I’ve always wanted an outdoor classroom,” she said, “and having a sort of pop-up shelter would be a place we could have things like our ‘Dog Reading Pals’ program when the weather is good.”