A stock photo of children playing on the Outlast Toddler Climbing Set, a multi-level wooden arrangement, which will be featured on the Clark Pleasant library branch’s Exploration Walk. Library officials will dedicate the walk April 30.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Clark Pleasant library branch visitors will soon have the opportunity to explore the effects of erosion, peer into an observation greenhouse and play musical instruments.
The features are all part of the Johnson County Public Library’s first Exploration Walk, which will be located outside the branch northeast of U.S. 31 and Clearwater Boulevard in Whiteland. The walk cost about $18,000, but was covered by a District 6580 grant in collaboration with Center Grove, Greenwood and Franklin Rotary Clubs, said David Maurer, former club president and current board member for the Center Grove Rotary Club.
Library officials will dedicate the walk on April 30 as part of the library’s “Celebrate Día” event, a festival from 2 to 4 p.m. celebrating children’s books from around the world, JCPL Assistant Director Sarah Taylor said in an email.
The three rotary clubs each contributed $3,000, which was matched by a $9,000 contribution from Rotary International, Maurer said.
“It’s just allowing individuals and kids to be able to explore and just give another option for learning and creating conversations,” he said. “We welcomed the opportunity to contribute to one of the most innovative libraries in the Johnson County system. We realized the potential impact on the library by not only being in the middle of the population, but the library is right in the middle of the county as well.”
The walk will help children navigate elements of science, technology, engineering, art and math, or STEAM, Taylor said.
“The Exploration Walk will include a variety of different high-quality interactive play and learn installations,” she said. “Children will be able to explore STEAM activities, like a water table and an observation greenhouse, sensory elements, including gross-motor activities and musical instruments, and imaginative play, like an outdoor farmers market stand.”
The Outlast Cascade Play Center, one of the features of the walk, will allow children to experiment with erosion and flood control using flow pans. Another feature, the Outlast Toddler Climbing Set, is a multi-level wooden arrangement for small children that also includes balancing beams, Taylor said.
The Trafalgar library branch has a nature trail and the Kelsey Anne Devine StoryWalk, featuring pages that progress as the trail continues. The Exploration Walk builds on that idea of getting children outside to learn and play with new elements that are unique to the Clark Pleasant branch, she said.
The learning opportunities will help students grow academically, she said.
“Play is how children learn,” Taylor said. “Our indoor children’s space is so popular with families that we’d like to extend it outdoors to incorporate additional learning activities for our community. Besides providing a fun family activity, the Exploration Walk allows children to explore and play while building skills that will help them gain school readiness.”
The Exploration Walk is the latest addition to the $8.8 million, 17,200-square-foot branch library officials unveiled to the public last March. The library features an Everbright interactive light wall which could change colors for patrons who wanted to create their own artistic piece, a STEAM Zones Robotics Learning Lab and a youth program room for kids and teenagers.
In October, staff members installed a community art project, a mosaic created by more than 400 community members titled “Happy Thoughts.” Along with the Exploration Walk, library staff members will continue to develop the Clark Pleasant branch’s outdoor space.
At 3 p.m. May 21, the library will also unveil its first outdoor statue, which will highlight the women of Johnson County and their accomplishments. Library officials are also working on installing a community garden in the coming months, Taylor said.
