Photo by Jim Muchlinski Eagle Scout Owen Elsen of Marshall planned an outdoor Story Walk for the Marshall-Lyon County Library. Pictured next to a storyboard are Elsen, Paula Nemes, public services manager at the library, and children’s librarian Mary Beth Sinclair.

MARSHALL — Eagle Scout Owen Elsen and staff at the Marshall-Lyon County Library proved to be a winning combination when it came to the development of a new outdoor Story Walk.

Elsen chose the Story Walk as his Eagle Scout project. It requires Scouts to plan a substantial community-based improvement with the help of donations and volunteers.

His project had a deadline since Scouts must complete all Eagle Scout requirements before they turn 18. He will be 18 years old on Nov. 16.

“Many people start working on it more than a year ahead of time,” Elsen said. “I had to wait to get started because of the pandemic. It got to the point where I needed a project, and the library had a really good option.”

The boards for the Story Walk are in place next to the sidewalk on the west end of the library property. The first story sheets from a children’s book will be installed soon. A new book will be featured at least every several months.

Metal frames and glass panes were made by Marshall-based companies. The city of Marshall and Scout families contributed labor for the project. Donations were provided by both individuals and local businesses.

The project cost $11,000 altogether, all of which came through donations raised by Elsen and funds from Marshall’s Friends of the Library group.

Elsen said he was interested in the project from the start, and that he became even more intrigued as it went forward. One of the biggest parts of his learning experience was the opportunity to lead a community-wide effort.

“Leadership was new for me,” Elsen said. “I learned many valuable skills. I enjoyed talking to potential donors and leading volunteers in a project that helps the community. The Story Walk is very important to the library and to myself.”

Paula Nemes, the public services manager at the library, said the Story Walk was planned because of public interest that was shown in a temporary outdoor set of plywood storyboards that provided a reading experience during the pandemic.

The idea to use Scouts came about after staff heard about a similar Scout-based effort in Redwood Falls. A permanent Story Walk with durable boards proved to be ideal as an Eagle Scout initiative.

“It made sense to approach the Scouts,” Nemes said. “They were very interested. They took the concept and ran with it.”

Staff anticipate that the Story Walk will see steady turnouts, particularly among families that include young children. It might also be a concept that could be applied to other settings such as city parks and trails.

“I’m very pleased with the results,” said Marshall Lyon County Library children’s librarian Mary Beth Sinclair. “Owen and the Scouts did a great job. We’re glad we can offer a Story Walk to the community. It’s a great way to promote literacy.”