The Halton Hills and Orangeville libraries, along with Credit Valley Conservation, have officially debuted Terra Cotta Conservation Area’s latest chapter. StoryWalk displays are open and available for visitors to enjoy.
“They are about fostering a love of reading, about sparking curiosity, promoting physical wellness and community well-being,” Halton Hills Library CEO Beverly King told the crowd gathered at the unveiling.
Installations with panels from children’s storybooks dot the Wetland Trail in the park. The featured story inaugurating the displays is A Long Way Home by Jean Little and Gabrielle Grimard. It's a story about Maya, a refugee girl, and Jane, a local. The pair become fast friends, bonding over their love of butterflies.
“It promotes diversity, equity and inclusion in our parks as well. [It’s a] great opportunity for families to learn a little bit about different lived experiences,” said park superintendent Evan Orme. “That's a real area of passion for myself - to connect people with nature and see people enjoying our parks and make that personal connection that's meaningful for them.”
The project was completed in collaboration with the Orangeville Library. They have similar displays mounted at Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville.