NORMAL - Parents and their young children likely will have another place to interact this spring.

The Normal City Council on Monday approved a plan by Teens United for McLean County to add a "Born Learning" loop trail at Anderson Park. An opening ceremony is planned from 9 a.m. to noon on May 16.

"This is cool to see young folks stepping up here," said Councilwoman Cheryl Gaines. "It's cool to be doing good things for the community rather than bad things to get attention."

Eighteen junior and senior high school students from schools throughout McLean County make up Teens United for McLean County. The group is under the direction of the United Way of McLean County.

Jennifer Koth, a senior at University High School, said the trail is designed to target early childhood learning.

"It's an easy way to utilize an outing in the park," said T.J. Bogar, a junior at Normal Community High School.

The concrete path will be built just south of the tennis courts at Anderson Park to Karin Drive. There will be nine interactive signs along the way to encourage children and their parents or caregivers to interact such as: a jump, clap, skip and move station; a describe, compare, learn station; and a look, listen, touch and think station.

Each station will offer ideas for activities such as pretending to move like an animal or walk like a duck, or touch a flower or a tree and describe how it feels.

A hopscotch board will be painted on the trail at one of the stations while letters and circles will be at other stations.

"They're fun ways for parents and children to interact and have fun," said Bogar.

Grant Pestka, a junior at Lexington High School, said Teens United will provide the signs, posts, stencils, paints and supplies and work with the Normal Parks and Recreation Department on installation. The teens' contribution will total more than $2,800.

The town will build the 6-foot wide path, install the posts and maintain the path and signs. The estimated town cost, not including time, is about $3,000.

Allison Brown, a senior at Lexington High School, said a book drive is under way at the high schools so that each child who comes to the grand opening of the trail can receive a book. Any extra books will be given to day care centers.

Brown said one of the goals of the group is for the venture to be so successful that it is continued in future years.

Councilman Jason Chambers said he was glad to see a project that will get families away from the computers and outside interacting.

"I admire you undertaking this," said Mayor Chris Koos. "It's a fairly large project."

Anderson Park was chosen from a list of nine parks because it is near a church and schools, has a lot of activities and parking, has strong summer programs and the trail will be visible from the park and the street.