KABOOM!’s new Story Trails will bring neighborhood stories to life

COMMUNITY

Mar 29

KABOOM! is partnering with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Too Small To Fail, Read by 4th, and Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network to bring five Story Trails to Philadelphia area parks thanks to the generous support of the William Penn Foundation.

First things first, what is a Story Trail?

A Story Trail is a walkable trail with panels that show a story, like pages of a book! Installed in public spaces around the country, these trails make any time story time. Our five new Philadelphia Story Trails will not only have story panels, but also playful panels! These playful panels will incorporate playful learning concepts and help the story come to life with interactive elements that children can engage with and manipulate, such as a scavenger hunt panel or a panel with musical instruments like chimes or bongos. Children and adults can read, play and learn together—all while they get from point A to point B!

North Philly, Germantown, and Kensington—help write a story families will love!

Something special is happening here in Philly: three neighborhoods have the chance to write and design their very own community stories! Community members (adults AND kids) will work alongside local author and artist, Andre Chaney, and expert community connector, Phoebe Bachman, to write a story truly reflective of each of their neighborhoods. With your help, families will enjoy these for years to come.

Mallery Playground

McPherson Square

Penrose Rec Center

“These Story Trails will bring literacy and play into the heart of community spaces. Written by neighbors, for their neighborhood.”

— Alyssa Young, Program Manager, KABOOM!

If you live, work, or play near Mallery Playground, McPherson Square, or Penrose Rec Center, help us write a Story Trail. Read by 4th is hosting two family-friendly workshops in your neighborhood between April-May 2023. At the workshops, we’ll share stories and brainstorm themes for your community’s new custom Story Trail. Everything we create together will be shared with artist Andre. He'll weave our words together into a beautiful narrative to illustrate the Story Trail of our dreams.

Want to join the fun? Click the button to get involved!

Help Create a Story Trail

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