Fairview StoryWalk exhibit to reemerge in more durable form

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Jun 27, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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A new interactive exhibit in Fairview gives children a chance to exercise their minds and bodies at the same time. But a rash of vandalism has forced city officials to take a step back and address the durability of “StoryWalk” before re-installing it.

The project features laminated pages of children’s books posted at strategic locations along a trail in the wetlands park next to Community Park in Fairview Village. It got off to a somewhat bumpy start in late May after the book “Olivia” was put on display. Book pages stapled to wooden stakes were put to the test first by vandals and then by a violent thunderstorm that blew through the area June 3.

City Administrator Joe Gall, who brought the idea for StoryWalk to Fairview, says the exhibit has been temporarily dismantled while public works employees devise a more durable way to display its components.

“Wooden sticks with laminated pages weren’t quite tough enough for kids walking along a trail,” he says, referring to the likely profile of vandals. “We’re reassessing ways to make it less prone to vandalism.”

Bob Cochran, Fairview public works director, says StoryWalk should be up and running again by Monday, July 6.

Gall first learned about StoryWalk, which is a trademarked name for the project, through an article in a national parks and recreation magazine. A volunteer for the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition started the project, but Gall says Fairview just might be the first West Coast city to try it.

“It seemed like a real cool, simple program that doesn’t cost very much money,” Gall says.

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