The Watertown Area United Way is currently working on a new “Born Learning Trail” at McKinley Park. Today, Smith Equipment by Miller Electric crews were on-site to begin the installation of the all-new innovative outdoor learning experience.
KXLG News was on site to capture images of the volunteer crews at work.
When completed, the Born Learning Trail will include a series of colorful signs with engaging activities designed to encourage young children and their families to talk, read, and play together, thereby promoting early brain development and academic readiness.
Laura Heathcote, Executive Director of Watertown Area United Way, previously expressed her appreciation for the community collaboration that made this project a reality, specifically thanking the Watertown Optimist Club for their generous funding and the Smith Equipment team, which included Miller Electric employees, for their volunteer work on the installation. She tweeted, “The Born Learning Trail reflects the best of what happens when a community comes together — businesses, service clubs, and nonprofits working side-by-side to invest in our kids and our future.”
Heathcote told KXLG News today that she was pleasantly surprised by the large number of volunteers who came out to help.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Born Learning Trail is scheduled for Friday, August 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. This project is part of the Watertown Area United Way’s larger effort to promote early childhood development, literacy, and family engagement in the community.
