MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, JUNE 14, 2016: The walking trail at Atrium Medical Center was recently extended to an approximately one mile paved path surrounding the hospital campus for use by hospital employees, visitors and the general public.
The walking path was expanded thanks in large part to a grant from Interact for Health, a nonprofit foundation that is building healthy communities for all people in Greater Cincinnati.
“One of our initiatives is active living,” said James Schwab, president and chief executive officer of Interact for Health. “This is the kind of project we love because it brings together health partners.”
A ribbon cutting was held Thursday, June 9, at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown to celebrate the latest phase of the walking trail to be built, which added about 0.3 miles on the south end of the campus. It provides a safe walking place around the hospital’s emergency and ambulance parking areas.
A ribbon cutting ceremony June 9 celebrated the expanded walking trail at Atrium Medical Center. Pictured from left to right: Michael Stautberg, president, Atrium Medical Center Foundation; Megan Folkerth, program officer, Interact for Health; Jim Kleingers, Foundation board member; Barbara Strait, Foundation board member; Carol Turner, president and chief executive officer, Atrium Medical Center; Larry Mulligan Jr., mayor, City of Middletown; Patricia Miller Gage, Foundation board member; Neila Barnes; Foundation board member; John McKinney, director, facilities management, plant services and engineering, Atrium Medical; James Schwab, president and chief executive officer, Interact for Health; and Sam Lobar, director of major gifts, Atrium Foundation.
The mission of Atrium’s nonprofit parent system Premier Health is to build healthier communities and the trail promotes fitness of employees and guests.
Plans call for one more phase of construction in the future to grow the path to a total 1.3 miles. The next phase would complete the trail loop along the west and north side of campus.
“This is a health, wellness, education and technology campus,” said Carol Turner, president and chief executive officer of Atrium Medical Center. “Once complete, it’ll be a lovely place for people to walk, jog and exercise, and focus on their wellness.”
Additionally, the trail connects a series of gardens for walkers, runners and bikers to enjoy with water features, a bronze statue Angel of Hope and a wooden pergola.
"Atrium Medical Center Foundation has raised over $800,000 through its many generous donors to help build this walking trail. We are very pleased to be a part of creating this community asset and look forward to launching phase six, which will make the walking trail a 1.3 mile loop around the campus," said Michael Stautberg, president of the hospital’s Foundation.
Atrium Medical Center serves residents of Butler, Warren and surrounding counties from its main Middletown campus located at One Medical Center Drive, near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Ohio 122. The full-service hospital and Level III Trauma Center employs more than 1,500 people in full-time, part-time and on-call positions. Other facilities operated by Atrium include Atrium Health Center Trenton and Atrium Health Center Mason, which offers emergency services.
For more information about how to contribute to the maintenance and growth of the walking trail and gardens, contact Atrium Medical Center Foundation at 513-420-5144.
BY THE NUMBERS
0.9 miles of walking trail now available for Atrium Medical Center employees and visitors
1.3 miles total walking path planned to loop around the Middletown hospital campus
$50,000 grant from Interact for Health helped build the latest expansion of Atrium’s walking trail
COMING UP NEXT
What: Middletown Arts Center 11th Annual Garden Tour
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday June 25-26
Where: Self-guided tour stops at various garden locations throughout Middletown including Atrium Medical Center’s gardens found along the walking trail
How: For more information, and to buy a program and tickets, contact the arts center at 513-424-2417 or visit www.middletownartscenter.com
About Premier Health
