McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer

Imagine strolling through the park and reading a children’s book, page by page. That’s the idea behind the new StoryWalk coming to Watford City. “I think it’s a great idea,” declared Commissioner Kathy Skarda, summing up the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners’ enthusiastic response to a proposed “Walk and Wonder” StoryWalk project presented by Irene Sealy from the McKenzie County Public Library. The project, a collaboration with Parks and Recreation, will bring an interactive reading experience to Tourist Park.
Sealy explained the concept to the board: “We would order 18 to 20 of them and display a children’s book throughout the park.” The “them” refers to specially designed display stands that would hold enlarged, laminated pages from children’s books. This would allow families to stroll through the park while reading a story, page by page.
Commissioner Skarda raised some key questions regarding costs and maintenance. “It states…that the library would cover all initial costs,” she noted, asking about potential future expenses. Sealy clarified that the initial purchase of the displays is a one-time cost covered by the library. “The displays themselves are 18 by 24, and so we would need to have those specially printed somewhere,” Sealy explained, adding that the library would also absorb the costs of changing the displayed books “three to four times a year.”
Skarda also inquired about the three-year warranty on the displays and ongoing maintenance. Sealy confirmed that the library would be responsible for replacements after the warranty period, stating, “The library does have money in the budget that we could allocate for making sure that those are kept up to date.” Regarding cleaning and upkeep, Sealy explained, “They [Parks and Rec] will be maintaining, of course, the space around them. And then…contacting us should they notice any vandalism or something wrong with them and calling us so that we can go out.”
Skarda also asked about the impact on library staffing. “Will this impact your scheduling for employees or…overtime need or anything like that?” Sealy responded with an emphatic, “Absolutely not.” Other commissioners were also interested in the longevity of similar projects elsewhere. “Have you asked all their longevity as of there?” one asked. Sealy responded, “I did. I reached out to West Fargo, and theirs are holding up really well. And so they have had to replace one or two due to vandalism, but overall they’re holding up fairly well.” She also described a feature of the displays that allows for drainage of any accumulated water or condensation.
The commissioners noted the project’s connection to a community enhancement grant from the Rough Rider Fund, a Watford City initiative: “[We] like opportunities where we get to be collaborative with other municipalities within.” Sealy confirmed that she had also presented the proposal to the park board, who were “super supportive and really excited.”
With no further discussion, Commissioner Skarda moved to approve the project. The “Walk and Wonder” StoryWalk project is now set to bring a new dimension of literacy and outdoor fun to Watford City’s Tourist Park.

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