Just as the Yellow Brick Road led Dorothy to the amazing Emerald City in author L. Frank Baum’s “Land of Oz” books, the Dallas Public Library soon will have a path that leads North Texas kids into the wonderful world of reading and learning.

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is seeking design proposals for a new kid-friendly and education pathway that will lead children from the sidewalk on Young Street, across the library’s plaza, and through its front doors.

“We are looking for designs that will incorporate literacy and play, such as popular children’s rhymes, planets of the solar system and basic math.”
Melissa Dease

“We are looking for designs that will incorporate literacy and play, such as popular children’s rhymes, planets of the solar system, and basic math,” Youth Services Administrator Melissa Dease said in a release.

The submission deadline is May 25 and the path is expected to be completed by Aug. 10.

The walking path is intended to welcome children who might be visiting the library field trips, events, or programs, or with their parents visiting to the Vital Statistics Office that is housed on the library’s first floor.

The city said that the library project will be paid for with a Play Everywhere grant from Kaboom!, a national nonprofit that helps communities build playgrounds for children, transforming everyday spaces into opportunities for kids to play.

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is at 1515 Young St. in downtown Dallas and will soon have a pathway leading children inside. [Photo: Lance Murray]