(Jackson Township, OH) – Stark County families will have a fun new way to get their steps in at Butler Rodman Park. A new Storybook Trail is set to open at the park located at 2295 W State St. in Alliance. A grand ceremony has been scheduled to celebrate the occasion on Friday, October 13 at 12 p.m.
The trail is a collaborative project between the Stark County Health Department, the Alliance Parks and Recreation Department, and Rodman Public Library. The Alliance Parks and Recreation Department received funding from the Creating Healthy Communities grant from the Stark County Health Department to implement an environmental change to increase opportunities for physical activity. It took about a month and a half to install the trail around the Destination Playground at the park. It features a limestone walkway with several posts located along the outside that hold book pages and activities for families.
“Butler Rodman Park is a hub for sports and physical activity in Alliance,” said Abigail Jenkins, the Creating HealthyCommunities Coordinator and a health educator with the Stark County Health Department. “The Storybook Trail will be a great way to provide an additional resource for everyone to get moving.” Rick Baxter, president of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, is expected to be in attendance for the grand opening.
The Stark County Combined General Health District (Stark County Health Department) was founded in 1920 and is celebrating a century of health. The department is currently the ninth largest health district in the State of Ohio which serves the public health needs of over 250,000 people. The jurisdiction of the Stark County District is that of the 17 Townships, 12 Villages, and the cities of Louisville, North Canton, and Canal Fulton. The mission of the department is to assess, protect, promote, and improve the health of Stark County through leadership, quality service, and community partnerships.
Audrey Mattevi, Reporting