AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway Enhances Community Wellness
Recreational trails are certainly not a new concept for Rome, Georgia. Paved paths for walkers, runners and cyclists have existed in one form or another for more than 40 years. However, a new partnership between city and county governments and AdventHealth Redmond not only has increased the overall length of the local greenway, but it’s also taking active steps to enhance access and the usability of what is now 17 miles of multi-use trails.
This treasured component of the city’s infrastructure also received a new name with this partnership, the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway (“ECO” is an acronym that stands for the three rivers flowing through Rome — the Etowah, the Coosa and the Oostanaula). Thanks to the recent partnership with AdventHealth Redmond, the greenway offers access to a multitude of activities and events for people to easily incorporate healthy activities into their daily lifestyle.
“Our trails are beloved by our residents, and they appeal to visitors as well,” said Kristi Kent, communications director for the City of Rome and Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism. “Through this partnership, we can add more amenities to the trails and make them more visible to those who don’t know about it. The purchase of new directional signage will make it easier for residents and visitors to navigate the trails.”
According to Garrett Nudd, president of the AdventHealth Georgia Foundation, many of the elements of the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway enhancements were envisioned by AdventHealth Redmond as part of its proposal to the City of Rome/Floyd County and are extensions of the hospital’s mission.
“Our brand promise at AdventHealth is to help our patients, family members, team members and community members feel whole,” said Nudd. “The AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway is not just an avenue for people to exercise but a way for people to connect. It’s wonderful, whether it’s someone connecting with their kids on a picnic or people exercising with others or even using the trails for walking meetings. I’m excited about the partnership.”
The first plantings of a new urban food forest are now in the ground along the Kingfisher Trail, steps away from the nine-hole disc golf course, recently installed by the City of Rome. Reflecting the principles of AdventHealth’s CREATION Life concept — an eight-point, faith-based wellness philosophy that focuses on nutrition, activity and a positive outlook, among other principles — the food forest features blueberry bushes as well as mulberry, plum, pear and apple trees.
When these plants reach maturity, the fruits of the partnership’s labors will serve as free, healthy food sources for nearby residents or anyone making use of that section of the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway.
“This is one of the unique elements of the plan,” said Nudd, pointing out that the food forest is not a community garden in the traditional sense but a space where people can pick fruits directly from the trees/bushes.
He adds that this phase of the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway directly addresses the organization’s ongoing community health assessments, which identifies pockets of need within each community.
“Our areas of focus for the next three years are mental health, heart disease and the prevention and early detection of cancer,” he said. “This whole greenway project reflects AdventHealth’s mission statement and aligns with how we are trying to make a positive impact in the community where people live, work and play.”
Jake Hager, foundation director of the AdventHealth Georgia market, says the section of greenway where the food forest is located will not only be a free supplemental source of healthy foods for the South Rome community, but it will also be a vital transportation link, connecting residents to other nutritional outlets.
“We recognize that a lot of people are using the greenway for recreation, but a whole population is also using it for transportation, such as getting from home to work or to a grocery store,” Hager said. “The Kingfisher Trail connects the local housing authority with the nearest grocery store, and we feel it provides an access point to healthier food.”
He adds that AdventHealth Redmond consulted with Ernie Watson, Rome's city arborist, regarding the best fruit varieties to plant, based on factors such as annual sunlight, soil type, hardiness and familiarity.
Included in the long-term plans for the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway is a pavilion, restroom and children’s play area at the Mount Berry Trailhead.
“This will be a different part of the trail and reach a different group of people,” Nudd said. “It’s closest to AdventHealth Redmond and will benefit multiple generations of users. Maybe you’re not a runner or walker, but it will be a good place for picnics or to watch your grandchildren play.”
In addition to physical improvements to the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway, the partnership between local governments and AdventHealth Redmond includes programs designed to enhance user experiences. “Walk with a Doc” events will be open to the community, while a proposed Feel Whole Stroll event will benefit survivors of cancer, heart attacks or joint replacements. AdventHealth Redmond will also host a rehab therapist or sports medicine trainer to show demonstrations of existing exercise equipment installed at Ridge Ferry Park by the Heart of the Community Foundation.
While all of these tangible and intangible offerings will certainly help make the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway more of a community asset, it’s important that Rome residents and visitors alike become aware of their implementation. Furthermore, a Tales from the Trail video series will help get the word out through testimonials from community members and leaders, all sharing their personal stories of how the greenway and its facilities have impacted their lives in a positive way. The videos will be disseminated via social media and the websites of various partnering organizations.
Other future components of the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway collaboration may include exercise videos and monthly trail clean-up sessions.
One community organization instrumental in the recent development of the greenway has been TRED (Trails for Recreation and Economic Development) of Rome/Floyd County. Formed in 2012 by a groundswell of likeminded trail advocates, the group’s mission is to promote the enhancement and expansion of the greenway system. Its early fundraising efforts helped spur further financial contributions by city/county governments, which led to the paving of a quarter-mile connector that joined two larger sections of trails. After studying similar greenway systems in other communities, TRED partnered with the PATH Foundation to rebrand the Rome trails as the ECO Greenway in 2022 (later renamed the AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway once the AdventHealth Redmond partnership was official).
“From that point on, we had momentum,” said Julie Smith, TRED founder and transportation and trails planner for the City of Rome/Floyd County. “We started looking for a partnership and began receiving bids on the project. When AdventHealth Redmond made its pitch, we realized it was an absolutely perfect fit.”
Similarly to Smith, Kent notes that AdventHealth Redmond’s approach to the greenway project has been a true partnership, not just financial sponsorship.
“AdventHealth Redmond was looking to see how they could work with us to make the trails even better for our community,” she said. “They’re committed on a personal level, working with our arborist to pick out the trees and get them planted and developing plans for the playground. They’re walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Their actions have been apparent since day one.”