UAMS Collaborates with EAST Students, City of Springdale to Install StoryWalk at Murphy Park
| FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) Office of Community Health & Research worked with Springdale EAST students and the City of Springdale to install a StoryWalk at Murphy Park.
A StoryWalk is a literacy-boosting project that separates and enlarges the pages of a children’s book and displays them on a walking path, encouraging participants to continue the story while also engaging in physical activity.
UAMS worked with the Springdale Parks and Recreation Department and the Education Accelerated by Service and Technology (EAST) students at Springdale’s Westwood Elementary and Helen Tyson Middle School to locate the venue for the project, design the podium mounts for the enlarged pages and promote the project. UAMS also worked with Community Clinic to help with outreach for the project.
“We are very proud to be a part of the StoryWalk project because it allows Northwest Arkansas children to build strong community relationships while also encouraging physical activity and reading for both children and adults,” said Sarah Moore, assistant director of programs in the Office of Community Health & Research. “We are planning to build more StoryWalks in the future so more people can be a part of this wonderful project.”
The StoryWalk project was revealed in May of 2022 and changes books each month. UAMS is also planning to install another StoryWalk in another park later this year.
Murphy Park is located at 501 S. Pleasant St. in Springdale.