StoryWalk® in the Park during April’s Poetry Month Features Local Poets and Artists

by Jane Stahl 

Since April is designated as Poetry Month, Sairra Cloen, Boyertown Community Library’s staff member, chose local poets and artists for the StoryWalk® feature at Boyertown Community Park.

Poem Carol Croll; art by Susan Biebuyck

Poem and photograph by Lisa Mitchell

Each pedestal features a poem from a local writer that had been published in one of Studio B Art Gallery’s ten anthologies of poetry, prose, and art. Each page was enhanced by a piece of art or photograph created by a local artist connected with Studio B.

Poem by Kathryn Kirk; photograph by Susan Biebuyck

In addition to the nine poems displayed along the walk there are several invitations to try writing poems--a haiku and an acrostic poem

Haiku and photograph by Jane Stahl

Meet the poets! Writers include Marilyn Basehoar,  Carol Croll, Kathryn Kirk, Marilyn Klimcho, Lisa Mitchell, Marcia Rowe, Jane Stahl, Theresa Werba, and John Yamrus. Artwork or photographs contributed by Marilyn Basehoar, Susan Biebuyck, Maryanne Buschini, Jim Meehan, Lisa Mitchell, Marcia Rowe, and Jane Stahl

An invitation to participate in Studio B’s call for photographs as part of the studio’s summer “I AM: Proud” project ends the StoryWalk®

StoryWalk® started in the mid-West in 2007 and has taken off in communities throughout the country. The local effort began in 2020, when the Boyertown Community Library set up a temporary StoryWalk® using yard signs in the park to display the book pages each Wednesday.

In July 2023, the library installed a permanent StoryWalk®, making a display of book pages available year-round in any weather. The library plans to have a new story displayed every month, available all month.

Support for the StoryWalk® has been a community effort. Donations from Suzanne Biesecker, the Effenesse Foundation, and the library’s annual Disk Golf Tournament hosted by the library’s Fundraising Committee and Phat Cats Disco Golf group, funded the project. Cement and other supplies were generously donated by AD Moyer Lumber. A team of volunteers assisted in the installation of the posts.

The StoryWalk® project was featured on a “B Inspired” podcast episode with Sairra Cloen, Barbara Kreisler, and Lindsey Mason. “B Inspired” is available on your favorite podcast platform including Spotify, Google, Castbox, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic. Apple. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jane-stahl/episodes/Boyertown-C…

The StoryWalk® project was featured in a previous article in The Boyertown Area Expression. Find it by clicking here.

More News from Boyertown

• The Measure: Make a Contribution Phil Repko reflects on the measure of our humanity in our contributions toward a meaningful life.
• April 29, 1922: Rev. Clarence H. Swavely Bid Farewell before Departure as Missionary to India Rev. Clarence H. Swavely was honored at a farewell service before his departure to India where he served as missionary for 37 years.