Kaiser Permanente and Prince William County have broken ground on the first dedicated wellness park in Prince William County, Va. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the groundbreaking ceremony was not open to the public.
The new green space, located at 13030 Harbor Drive in the Town of Occoquan, involved an 18-month collaborative public design process funded by Kaiser Permanente. The park, which will open in 2021, will feature a one-mile trail that connects it with the Kaiser Permanente medical hub being built in Caton Hill.
“Having a safe place to exercise outdoors is central to total health, one of Kaiser Permanente’s fundamental priorities,” said Celeste James, executive director for Community Health at Kaiser Permanente. “We hope that this new community space enables the residents of Prince William County to get up and moving.”
The park, to be known as Wellness Park at Harbor Drive in Healthy Partnership with Kaiser Permanente, will consist of a community garden and a one-mile paved trail for walking, jogging, and biking; it will also feature a variety of exercise equipment. The project represents a successful public-private partnership totaling $200,000 of direct private investment by Kaiser Permanente. The wellness park will provide space for the community to spend time outdoors, exercise or play in a safe and green environment within the community.
“With a walking trail, plenty of open space, and outdoor fitness equipment, this new park will provide great fitness and recreational opportunities to residents of the Occoquan District,” said Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye. “We appreciate Kaiser Permanente’s support in bringing this new park to fruition, and to the members of County staff who have been working tirelessly on this project through these challenging times.”
The wellness park is projected to be completed and available to the community in Summer 2021.
“Parks provide a place for residents to connect with nature and make cherished memories with family and friends,” said Seth Hendler-Voss, director of Parks & Recreation, Prince William County. “This park will be a welcome addition to a robust portfolio of outdoor spaces accessible to residents.”
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/
