Photos AdventHealth
It’s official. The Mt. Berry Trailhead Playground is open to the public!
Continuing their previous efforts in the ECO Greenway, the City of Rome and TRED have collaborated with AdventHealth Redmond to provide a fun, accessible way for Romans to exercise.
The Mt. Berry Playground is the newest addition to The AdventHealth Redmond ECO Greenway, a series of trails leading through 11 miles of beautiful Rome scenery.
Scotty Hancock, AdventHealth Redmond’s Executive Director of Community Advocacy, expanded on the thoughts behind both projects:
“We wanted to create a space where people want to spend time together. A place where kids can play, families can slow down, and neighbors can get outside and move a little more without even thinking about it.”
Mayor Jim Bojo spoke to the impact that the ECO Greenway and the Mt. Berry Trailhead Playground have on Romans’ quality of life.
“It’s something for everyone.” Caregivers and kids, Rome natives and tourists alike, can enjoy Floyd County nature just minutes away from downtown.
The playground adds a kid-focused element to the Mt. Berry Trail, perfect for families to relax and play while gaining all the health benefits of exploring the trail. It’s also a part of Rome’s larger expansion. Mayor Bojo is optimistic about the improvements this collaboration will bring about for Rome development and tourism.
The addition of the playground was proposed by AdventHealth Redmond during early sponsorship discussions. According to Julie Smith, Executive Director of TRED, it was “just one of the very unique out-of-the-box ideas that greatly impressed the committee.”
Isaac Sendros, CEO of AdventHealth Georgia and AdventHealth Redmond, said that this playground represents their mission “to help people feel whole—mind, body, and spirit.”
AdventHealth’s view on wellness extends far beyond physical health alone. The concept behind the ECO Greenway and the playground was to equally support physical, mental, and spiritual wellness for the whole person.
Even something as simple as a change of environment can do wonders for mental health, not to mention the community these spaces are already developing.
Smith added that “I haven’t visited the Mt. Berry Trail without seeing families playing on the playground and the hope is the space continues to build connections, experiences and memories for years to come.”
The playground was designed to accommodate children and caregivers equally. An easy transition to and from the Mt. Berry Trail, it allows the kids to familiarize themselves with nature while their guardians relax.
The play structure has all the childhood favorites—climbing platforms, monkey bars, slides, a swing set, and more—for kids to explore at their comfort level. Combined with its location on the trail, fun will never be far from nature.
The creation of the Mt. Berry Trailhead Playground is thanks to the collaboration of AdventHealth, TRED, and the City of Rome. Creating an even happier, healthier community is the ultimate goal with each of their projects, and there is still much more to look forward to.
“This isn’t just a one-time investment but part of a larger effort for community wellness,” Sendros says. “When we come together as a community, we can create something beautiful.”
