Georgia Hospital Embraces the Benefits of Green Space

Just outside Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia, is a little slice of paradise.

Gravel walking trails lined with flowers and benches wind through 1.5 miles of forested green space, allowing visitors to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Across the street, trees shade a peaceful pond.

The outdoor oasis was designed by the hospital nearly three decades ago. Today, it’s become a beloved space for the entire Carrollton community to enjoy.

“Every time I see somebody in that park, sitting there getting a picture taken or a family just watching their children play, I think: ‘There's our return on investment,’” said Loy Howard, Tanner’s CEO.

A Longstanding Connection to Trees

Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton has a long history of appreciating nature. The towering oak trees along the hospital’s main drive were planted in 1949 at the direction of Roy Richards Sr., founder of Southwire and then-chairman of the hospital’s board.

“If he had not blessed us with these beautiful trees, we may have never had the inspiration to complete the green space we have now,” Howard said of Richards, who passed away in 1985. “It was a legacy he started that we’re trying to continue on.”

When Howard began his role as CEO in 1994, he was in awe of the existing beauty on Tanner/Carrollton’s campus and made creating a hospital green space one of his top priorities.

“When I got here, there were these beautiful oaks that lined the main thoroughfare for the hospital called Dixie Street, and they were just magnificent,” Howard said. “I’m a part-time farmer and have a strong interest in green space and nature. I saw the opportunity that we could really make a green space part of our equation in taking care of our patients.”

To help that vision come to life, the hospital hired Ed Daugherty, one of Atlanta’s leading landscape architects, to create a master plan.

“We made a commitment that we were going to really emphasize and integrate green space in all the design of our buildings and all the things we were doing,” Howard said.

“Many times I'd get advice from engineers or whoever it might be saying, ‘Well, gosh – we can get more parking spaces in, or we can build a building there, or, do we want to waste this on green space?’ We think the exact opposite of that. We’re not wasting anything on green space – we're enhancing the experience that we offer all those interact with Tanner.”

Green Space for the Good of All

The benefits associated with the green space are endless.

Patients can get fresh air and sunshine, enhancing the recovery process. Spending time in nature has been linked to better sleep, reduced depression, improved recovery from surgery, and better outcomes for cancer survivors.

For caregivers, the green space is a welcome respite from the stresses of hospital life.

The trails are also popular with residents looking to improve their health through regular exercise.

Tanner has hosted heart health events in the park and partnered with the local track club for “Move It Mondays” — a couch to 5K-style program that turns walkers into joggers.

The park even connects to the 18-mile Carrollton GreenBelt, a public trail system available to the town’s 26,000 residents.

“You have these walking trails in bigger cities, but in cities our size, it’s much harder to find such a significant trail system,” Howard said. “We routinely see people from the GreenBelt going through our campus. The more that the community can engage with us in nontraditional ways, we think that's a great success.”

Recognition for Their Deep Commitment

In 2020, Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton was named a Tree Campus Healthcare facility by the Arbor Day Foundation. The program, established two years ago, recognizes health institutions that make a mission-aligned impact on community wellness through tree education, investment, and community engagement.

“Being a part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s efforts made sense to us. It has the kind of values that we appreciate and align with,” Howard said. “It’s an opportunity for us to draw attention to the fact that trees are important, especially in an urban environment.”

Through its association with the Foundation, as well as the creation of a Green Space Fund, the hospital hopes to maintain its commitment to the environment for years to come. “This is something that will continue on for generations,” Howard said.