WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – In 2024, the Lycoming County Library System received a grant from the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania’s Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant Cycle to fund the first-ever permanent Book Walk in Trout Run Park, 10294 Lycoming Creek Road, Williamsport, PA 17701.
A celebration to officially unveil the Book Walk has been scheduled for 2 pm Friday, July 25th, at the park. Families are invited to come out and enjoy a unique walking and reading experience of the bilingual children’s book, “Otto and the Sun,” by Canela and Luciana Fernandez.
A Book Walk is aimed at promoting reading together as a family, community engagement, and outdoor recreation. It is an innovative literacy initiative that displays an illustrated children’s book page-by-page along a walking path.
Lewis Township Supervisor, Stephen L. Sechrist expressed his support: “The addition of Book Walk will greatly enhance the recreational offerings at the park, which already features a pavilion, creek access, playground, and open fields. It will encourage physical activity while promoting literacy and connect visitors with the outdoors in a unique way.”
Trout Run Park is over 16 miles from the nearest brick-and-mortar library, making access a challenge for many Lewis Township residents due to work, family obligations, or transportation limitations. The Book Walk will offer a library experience right in their local park.
The Lycoming County Library System currently provides outreach services to Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company and the Trout Run Park through its visits by outreach vehicles. To see the complete outreach vehicle schedules, visit lclspa.org and click on “Outreach.”
“This project will provide opportunities for community involvement and collaboration with local schools and nearby organizations such as Camp Susque,” said System Administrator Amy C. Resh of the Lycoming County Library System. “This project will ensure that there is a free opportunity for reading and learning outside of the six LCLS libraries’ business hours, available in any season, at no cost to families.”
The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) works to improve the quality of life in north central Pennsylvania through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. Its vision is to create powerful communities through passionate giving.®
The Lycoming County Library System is committed to a vision of a vital and literate community. Established in 1983, the Lycoming County Library System comprises the six public libraries in Lycoming County: Hughesville Area Public Library, James V. Brown Library (Williamsport), Jersey Shore Public Library, Montgomery Area Public Library, Muncy Public Library, and Dr. W.B. Konkle Memorial Library (Montoursville). Each library is independently governed and operated by a local Board of Directors. For more information, visit https://lclspa.org/.