Connecticut Radio Information System

CRIS Radio joined Hartford Athletics and the Hartford Public Library to renovate
StoryWalk at Colt Park in Hartford. Storywalk® is an innovative and interactive way for
readers of all ages to enjoy a story and the outdoors at the same time.

Pages from the children’s picture book,” Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art
Transformed a Neighborhood” by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, and illustrated
by Rafael López, were installed on new metal podiums located along an outdoor path
in the park.

Families and children are encouraged to read the story -- or listen to the human-
narrated audio version – produced by CRIS Radio and available in English and
Spanish by scanning a QR Code displayed on the signs.

Various physical activities, such as 10 jumping jacks, are suggested on each page,
turning the story into an active, shared experience.

Volunteers of the project’s sponsor, M&T Bank, also helped with the park clean-up.

CRIS Solution

After three years, the outdoor installation of StoryWalk at Colt Park in Hartford was in
need for repair and renovation. CRIS Radio joined a group of community
partners to help rejuvenate StoryWalk at the park with a recording of another
children’s picture book in both English and Spanish languages.

As part of CRIS Radio’s CRISAccess Tour program, QR Codes displayed on each page
trigger the audio version of each page.

The staff and volunteers at CRIS were delighted to participate in this project, particularly
because past interaction of individuals scanning the QR Codes with their personal
smartphones for access the children’s audio book has been in the thousands.