A-Mazing Story Contest

Who can participate? 

Residents of Delaware County, Ohio.

Entry to include

o Up to a 20-line poem that would guide young readers through the A-Mazing Garden maze at the Boardman Arts Park that ends to a discovery of Joey the Muffler Boy and his Dog at the center of the maze. 

o Entry will be required to include full name, email address, zip code and phone number for contact purposes. 

o Participants will also have the option to upload illustrations, pictures, or any other visual medium to help express their story and bring the narrative to life.

You can submit your entry online or submit a paper entry at one of the four Delaware County District Library branch locations.

Delaware Main Library 84 East Winter St. Delaware, OH 43015   

Orange Branch Library 7171 Gooding Blvd. Delaware, OH 43015   

Ostrander Branch Library 75 North Fourth St. Ostrander, OH 43061   

Powell Branch Library 460 South Liberty St. Powell, OH 43065 

Contest Timeline 

Contest will run from March 1 – April 15, 2022. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2022.

How will a winner be chosen? 

By a panel of 3 judges. Entries will be judged on three categories to include Story Telling, Community Integration, and Park Characters Integration. These categories will be equally weighted.

What are the prizes?

1st Place Winner: Will receive their story published at the Park, Delaware County District Library and as an e-book version of their story. There will also be a $100 cash prize. 

2nd Place: Will receive an e-book version of their story and a $50 Beanbag Books gift card.

3rd Place: Will receive an e-book version of their story.

Story Inspiration

o Joey could be hiding, lost, playing a trick, looking for something; the outcome could surprise and delight, and have an element of whimsy.

o The other interactive characters of the park, the Unicorn, and the Bucket Head, could play a role in the story, as could the gnomes or any other character in the Park. 

o There are two paths that lead nowhere in the maze – they can be part of the story too.

We encourage you to visit the Park and the A-Mazing Garden Maze to get ideas. You can also visit our Imagination Space page to learn more about the newly developed space for inspiration.

Official Rules for the A-Mazing Story Contest can be found here.