Judy Zegers, Sully Library Director, has been a driving force of the StoryWalk™, which is now complete thanks to a collaborative effort between the City of Sully, Sully Library Board, and Janco Industries’ generous donation.
A good story and a good stroll can now be enjoyed together at Sully’s first permanent StoryWalk™ located along the Sully Ballpark walking path thanks to the combined efforts of Sully Library Director Judy Zegers, members of the Sully Library Board, City of Sully, and Janco Industries’ generous donation of labor and materials.
Sully’s path to a semi-permanent StoryWalk™ has been a work in progress since Zegers first presented the idea to Sully City Council in early 2025. Upon receiving approval to move forward with the idea in March, Zegers set out to find funding for the StoryWalk™ – a feature that essentially combines literacy with physical activity, making it a perfect addition to a growing community with many young families. Zegers applied for grants and initially pitched the idea to Sully Lions Club before reaching out to Janco Industries for possible assistance with the manufacturing of the signage mount posts and signs. Zegers admits she was hesitant to reach out to local businesses as she did not want to burden them with yet another donation request given they are frequently asked for assistance when various community projects and events arise. However, keeping the StoryWalk’s potential reach in mind, Zegers pocketed her hesitancy and reached out to her neighbor, Tyler Jansen, who works for his family-owned business, Janco Industries. “I asked him if it was anything Janco would be interested in making, emphasizing I was willing to fundraise for this project and did not expect anything other than manufacturing,” explained Zegers. “Imagine my complete shock and surprise when he came back a week later and said the family voted to make the StoryWalk™ components and donate the entire project to the Sully Library!”
“I will gladly admit to shedding a few tears after the library closed that day, from sheer amazement and joy that someone would be willing to step up for the library and the community like they did,” Zegers said.
With Janco on board, the StoryWalk™ progressed rapidly with install taking place in September. The first story, “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” is officially up along the Sully StoryWalk™. The StoryWalk™ consists of 18 signs that face north and east to minimize sun fading and condensation. The first sign located close to the 8th Avenue entrance explains the history of the StoryWalk™, a project created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, as well as library and story sponsorship information. The story starts with sign two. The fourth sign in the lineup, located near the shelterhouses, includes a page of the story as well as information directing people to the start of the walk in case they drove in and parked near the shelterhouses. The remaining signs hold the story and take active participants on a literary adventure as they weave along the walking path. The last sign contains information about how guests can record their StoryWalk™ experience for the library’s purposes. Zegers anticipates changing out the story once a month, at minimum, March through November or December, or as long and often as Mother Nature cooperates. “Even with the park ‘closed,’ walkers can be observed just about any time the path is clear, except in the coldest temperatures,” said Zegers, referring to the potential reach of the StoryWalk™ even during less-than-ideal weather conditions. Zegers has access to past stories used by the Newton Library in their StoryWalk™ located at the Newton Arboretum, which will only add to the literary joy the Sully StoryWalk™ experience will bring to all who pass by.
