Published on June 13, 2022

Hospital Offers Natural Campus

By Keith Lawrence, Messenger-Inquirer

Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is more than a place for sick people.

There are a lot of wellness opportunities on the 160-acre campus between Pleasant Valley Road and Daniels Lane.

The campus has nearly three miles of walking trails around six lakes, along with exercise stations.

And there’s plenty of nature to explore.

“We love to have families out here to use the facilities,” Joe Taylor, director of facilities, said recently. “We have a well-maintained playground. We try to keep it very enjoyable.”

The hospital grounds offer sanctuary to one of the largest goose populations in the area.

Hundreds can be seen some days.

Asked how many Canada geese there are, Taylor said, “Too many.”

“It’s getting to be a little bit of a problem,” he said. “People love them. But they are native to this property. They’re born here, and they never leave. They keep having babies that stay here.

“They’re a protected species. But we’ll eventually have to do something. They’re pretty tame. But, when they’re nesting, they’re very protective.”

Many of the geese don’t move when people walk within five feet of them.

And they can frequently be seen strolling across the street and parking lots.

Owensboro Health was the first hospital in the country to receive a Signature Sanctuary Certification from Audubon International, which helps protect natural resources.

It’s one of only five places in Kentucky to receive the environmental-friendly designation.

The others are golf courses and country clubs in Louisville and Lexington.

The lakes appear to be six bodies of water.

About Owensboro Health

Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.

On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.