WATSONVILLE—A trip to Pinto Lake County Park can include a picnic, time at the playground and a stroll along the lake.
Now, it can also include picking up – or dropping off – a book at a Little Free Library, which was installed on Sept. 26 next to the playground.
The installation came thanks to a partnership between Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, Santa Cruz County Parks, Friends of the Santa Cruz County Parks and the Live Like Coco Foundation.
“We are excited that families will now be able to take a book, or leave a book when visiting Pinto Lake County Park,” Live Like Coco’s executive director Kate Pavao said. “This park is very special to us because it’s where our foundation hosts an annual fun run each spring to celebrate my daughter Coco’s birthday. We are grateful that the Aztecas have agreed to help install and manage this library, and we hope it is well used – and loved.”
Live Like Coco is named after Colette “Coco” Elizabeth Pavao Lazenby, who was 12 when she was killed in a car crash.
One program of that organization is “Birthday Books From Coco,” in which every child with a birthday in a given month at certain schools receives a free book.
That, the parents of the late Coco say, is inspired by her love of reading.
During her life, Coco worked in community gardens, participated in beach cleanups, collected jeans for homeless teens and raised money to support several worthy causes, her parents say. The foundation also funds scholarship funding for extra-curricular activities and protects the county’s natural spaces.
Students in Pete Boscacci’s Harbor High School green construction classes built the library. Live Like Coco also manages free libraries at several county locations, including Seacliff Village County Park and the Homeless Garden Project.
Little Free Libraries are free book exchanges built by people in their communities. There are more than 90,000 registered sites in 91 countries worldwide.
