by Anastasia Tuckness

Ames is a city of parks. The convergence of Ioway Creek and the South Skunk River in South Ames results in many square feet of floodplain, not always great for commercial development but excellent green space for parks! Ames boasts 38 parks covering over 1220 acres that have been developed over many years. Brookside Park celebrates its 100^th anniversary next year! And new parks and green spaces spring up often—we recently discovered the new shared use path along Ioway Creek/South 5^th Street from South Grand Avenue extending to half a mile east of South Duff Avenue. While walking it, we were delighted to hear and see wildlife from birds and bullfrogs to toads and butterflies making their home in the little strip.

Many people choose to stack their summer outings by visiting a park and then the Library (a great way to hydrate and cool down!). But in the summer months, you can actually visit the Library AND a park at the same time! Library staff brings story time and activities along with the Bookmobile to various parks in July. (Catch them on July 22 at the Walnut Shelter, adjacent to the popular Miracle Park at 2500 Duff Avenue!)

The Bookmobile, in addition to its regular summer weekly stops (Mondays at Sawyer School, Wednesdays at Fareway on Stange, Thursdays on Iowa State’s campus), shows up at special community events in parks like the Juneteenth Celebration and National Night Out.

Tom Evans Park is where you’ll find the Bookmobile on select Farmer’s Market Days (upcoming: August 10, September 14, October 5). Stop in to pick up a cookbook or audiobook to help your cooking and canning projects!

Did you know the Bookmobile holds over 3000 items from every part of the Library’s collection? Items are rotated in and out frequently to match seasonal themes and current trends—everything from adult bestsellers to independent films to kids’ popular series books.

A StoryWalk® allows you to explore a picture book at your own pace while enjoying a great park! Moore Memorial Park features a series of signposts spread along the walking path. Each display features one spread of a picture book. I loved checking out the story of this winter’s selection, “Sprouting Wings,” about James Herman Banning, and am excited to go read “Fatimah’s Great Outdoors” this summer.

Celebrate national Park and Recreation Month this July by visiting a park—and your Library!