West Cleveland News

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded Rocky River a $6,000 grant for a Linden Park Storybook Walkway. The announcement was made on Oct. 10, according to an Ohio DNR news release.

The grant will be used to create a Storybook Walkway at Linden Park in Rocky River. The Storybook Walkway is a trail that features pages of a children's book along an outdoor path. This allows children and their families to read a book while enjoying nature and being active.

"Reading is a priority in Ohio, and I am excited that we continue building more Storybook Trails so that Ohioans have more places they can read a book outside," said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine, according to the Ohio DNR news release.

The grant awarded to Rocky River was one of four grants announced by the Ohio DNR, with a total of $34,000 in grant awards. The Ohio DNR launched its Storybook Trail program in 2019 and currently, there are 21 trails located across the state in Ohio State Parks.

The Storybook Walkway project is being funded through the Recreational Trails grant program, which provides up to 80% of project funding. This program is federally funded and administered by the Ohio DNR in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.

The creation of the Linden Park Storybook Walkway will not only promote reading and literacy but also encourage outdoor physical activity for children and families in Rocky River. This initiative aligns with the Ohio DNR's goal of providing more opportunities for Ohioans to enjoy books and nature simultaneously.