Angel Wrage, Tristan Wrage, LaShunda Williams, Tristan’s sister and Craig Scott cut the ribbon for the Story Stroll at the Gadsden Public Library on May 23. Submitted photo/The Messenger
The Gadsden Public Library now has a new attraction — Story Stroll Tales in the Park.
The idea first began when LaShunda Williams, branch manager for the East Gadsden branch of the Gadsden Public Library, brought it to Library Director Craig Scott.
“LaShunda hit me with the Story Stroll idea … and at about the same time coincidentally, a young man from Southside came to my office asking if he could do any work for the library to help him obtain his Eagle Scout award,” Scott said.
The young man, Tristan Wrage, worked closely with Williams, his mother Angel Wrage and his Boy Scout troop to create the Story Stroll in Underwood Park.
Wrage went before the Eagle Scout Review Board to present his work on the Story Stroll, and now he is able to proudly wear his Eagle Scout patch.
The ribbon cutting on the attraction took place Tuesday, May 23, at the main branch of the Gadsden Public Library on South College Street, though the ribbon cutting was moved inside due to a downpour of rain that morning.
“The crowd gave Tristan and LaShunda a big round of applause, and it was a rather touching ribbon-cutting,” Scott said.
With the help of Wrage’s mother and sister, Scott, Williams and Wrage cut the red ribbon to officially mark the Story Stroll as open, in front of members of the Gadsden/Etowah Chamber of Commerce.
Before the ribbon cutting, the library hosted The Chamber’s Business and Gravy networking event.
“The Chamber folks told me the library set a record for the most ever in attendance at their monthly networking event,” Scott said. “There were 70 registered and, with the unfortunate downpour of rain, we had 58 who joined us.”
During the networking event, Scott was able to introduce himself and library staff to The Chamber members. The library staff then registered the attendees for library cards and held a brief library trivia game.
The 10 winners of the trivia game each won a $10 gift certificate to the Beautiful Rainbow Café, located inside the library’s main branch.