Taine Club Explores Iron Horse River Trail Storywalk Project

Taine Club Explores Iron Horse River Trail Storywalk Project

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Montpelier Public Library expands outdoor literacy with Iron Horse River Trail Storywalk

Families in Montpelier now have a new way to combine physical activity with early childhood literacy through the expansion of the Storywalk program. Following a period of fundraising and installation, the project officially opened to the public in September 2025, bringing rotating children’s literature directly onto the Iron Horse River Trail, according to a report by The Village Reporter.

The initiative, which was first proposed in 2022, uses a series of 20 boards or posts positioned along the trail to display pages from selected picture books. By placing these panels at child-height, the program allows young readers to engage with stories while walking through a natural setting. During the warmer months, the library rotates the featured book approximately every four weeks, though these intervals are extended during the colder seasons.

Angie Humphrey, the director of the Montpelier Public Library, recently shared the evolution of the project with members of the Taine Club. The club members participated in a walk along the Iron Horse Trail to experience the installation firsthand, reading “Climb ON!” by Baptiste Paul. The book, which follows a father and daughter on a hiking adventure in the Caribbean, served as a thematic backdrop for the group’s outing.

New Storywalk installations planned for Garver and East End Parks

The success of the Iron Horse River Trail installation appears to be part of a broader regional trend in Ohio. The program follows a model utilized by many Ohio state parks, which are supported by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to encourage outdoor engagement.

Expansion is already underway in the surrounding area. Vicki Rathbun provided an update during the Taine Club meeting regarding upcoming projects for the Williams County Public Library in Bryan. Two additional Storywalks are slated for installation at Garver Park and East End Park, with a target completion date set for the spring.

The infrastructure of the current trail is designed for broad community access, featuring benches along the path to accommodate various users. This focus on accessibility mirrors a growing movement in municipal planning to integrate educational resources into existing public recreational spaces, ensuring that literacy tools are available outside the traditional confines of a library building.

The Taine Club will hold its next meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church Lounge. The upcoming session will feature a discussion led by Jackie Boyd regarding the book “The Seven Sisters” by Lucinda Riley.

Iron Horse River Trail

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