CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – On Thursday, the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Council, in partnership with Clarksville Parks & Recreation, unveiled the first of their Storybook Trails at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Drive.

The half-mile trail winds its way through the park with 18 stops along the way with information panels that tell a story in words and illustrations. Arts & Heritage Council Executive Director Dr. Ellen Kanervo talked about the trail.

The Storybook Trail is unveiled at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Karen Lyle & Jonna Black read one of the information panels along the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Storybook Trail is unveiled at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Dee Boaz standing beside an Albatross sculpture of Wisdom, the Midway Albatross at the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Louisa Cook, Chairman of the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Council speaking about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross at the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts speaking about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross at the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Storybook Trail is unveiled at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Janet Haase, Grants Manager for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation speaking about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross along the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Artist Kitty Harvill speaking about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross at the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Local artist and musician Leo Adames performs the song he wrote, Fly Wisdom Fly, for the unveiling of the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Nova Benton & Elizabeth Bryant hold Albatross puppets as local artist and musician Leo Adames performs the song he wrote, Fly Wisdom Fly, for the unveiling of the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Storybook Trail is unveiled at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Dr. Ellen Kanervo, Executive Director of the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Council, speaking about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross at the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
One of the information panels about Wisdom, the Midway Albatross along the Storybook Trail at Bel-Aire Park on Marie Dr. in Clarksville on Jun. 22, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

“We have put up a trail where children and families can go along and walk while reading a book about an Albatross named Wisdom. She is a 73-year-old bird, and she was born the same year I was,” Kanervo said.

Kanervo added that the trail will not only offer a memorable and educational experience for visitors, but also promote literacy and encourage an active lifestyle.

The book, Wisdom: The Midway Albatross, written by Darcy Pattison, follows the life and survival of, Wisdom, the oldest bird in the world, whose age has been documented with banding. The book is illustrated by Clarksville native Kitty Harvill, with the illustrations reproduced in the panels along the trail.

Local artist and musician Leo Adames wrote a song inspired by the book. He performed the song, “Fly Wisdom Fly” at Thursday’s unveiling of Bel-Aire Park’s Storybook Trail. The Storybook Trail was funded in part by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation and also supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Along with Montgomery County, the Arts & Heritage council has plans for four other similar Storybook Trails in Houston, Stewart, Cheatham, and Dickson Counties. The information panels at each site are designed to allow each site to exchange the panels to have new books to read along the trails.