Published on October 05, 2023
Healthpark to Celebrate 25-year Milestone This Month
By Freddie Bourne, Messenger-Inquirer
Following the merger of Mercy and Owensboro-Daviess County hospitals in 1995, plans began regarding opening up a healthpark facility at the former Mercy Hospital location on Ford Avenue.
By early 1997, construction for the then-named Owensboro Mercy Healthpark started, followed by in-person tours commencing in September 1998.
On Oct. 25, 1998, the facility — now known as the Owensboro Health Healthpark — opened its doors and has since become the only certified medical fitness facility in Kentucky.
This month, the 100,000-square-foot building — which includes outpatient diagnostic services, physical therapy, fitness center, pool and aquatics programs, gym, exercise equipment and classroom areas and a three-story medical office building — will celebrate its 25th year in operation.
Kathy Griffin, manager of business operations at the facility, has been with the Healthpark since opening day.
“We’ve made changes throughout the years, but continue to have a consistent health-and-wellness offering in the community,” she said. “I think we’ve been kind of consistent and stuck with the core of what we’re about — we are a medical fitness center, which makes us different from other facilities.”
Griffin said the Healthpark has shined throughout the years in its quality of staff and in putting members at the forefront.
“I think … we have been diligent about the staff that we have here, their credentials, their certifications, as well as
(being) about customer service,” she said. “We want to be a place where our customer service is like none other. “That’s really important to us, and I think that’s been part of our success through the years,” she said.
But it wasn’t always a smooth process, especially early when some expressed concerns over the merger the plans for a new Healthpark.
According to articles from the Messenger-Inquirer dating back to 1996, residents loyal to the former Mercy Hospital found the planned demolition of Mercy “hard to swallow,” while existing area health clubs and wellness programs were cautious about competing with the planned multi-million dollar Healthpark, among other concerns.
Griffin recalls some of the public objections, but said “it didn’t let that stop us” from moving forward and the Healthpark’s aim to promote inclusivity. “(We wanted) to provide the best service that we could to everyone,” she said. “We don’t want to be a country club; we want to be available to everyone, and I think you can see we are about that — we do have something for everyone.
“Whether depending on your financial level, or your medical condition or whatever it may be, we do want to accommodate that and be a resource to everyone,” Griffin said. Griffin said the Healthpark has overcome those initial concerns and has proved its worth “beyond the four walls” of the physical infrastructure.
“I think our outreach … continues to increase,” she said. “I hope that also brings the awareness that, ‘Hey, it’s not a building for folks that are at a certain income level.’ ”
Vickie Osborne became a member of the Healthpark about 24 years ago and said she’s remained a “happy customer.” “I’ve had arthritis since I was a kid, so I’ve been through a lot of surgeries and that kind of thing, and I just had my shoulder joint replaced … and the surgeon recommended water therapy,” she said. “So, I did a few water things along the way.”
Eventually, Osborne started to explore the Healthpark’s other offerings — which have helped her cope with other procedures she’s gone through over the last two decades.
“(The facility) has brought me through shoulder replacement, two knee replacements, an open heart surgery and a torn muscle in my hip — and I keep coming back,” she said.
Paula Hayden, who’s been a member since 2008, confessed not knowing about the Healthpark at first until she started exploring different gyms around town.
After 15 years, she continues to show up regularly when the facility opens at 5 a.m.
“I mean — hands-down — I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Hayden said. “It’s just got all you need.”
Griffin said the Healthpark hit its peak with membership pre-COVID-19 at about 5,400, and after a dip, has since bounced back.
She said programs like “Exercise is Medicine” — an eight-week supervised initiative developed by the American College of Sports Medicine to foster collaboration between healthcare providers and exercise professionals — is one of the constant draws for people to take part in.
“We’ve made a lot of efforts to work with physicians with those referrals to get folks started,” Griffin said. “It has been a great starter program for folks that just need some accountability.
“(It’s) been a great success for us. Our referrals continue to increase with that, and I (see) it even expanding more and more,” she said. Hayden knows someone personally who has benefited from the program.
“I have a daughter who was (diagnosed) with MS about 21 to 22 years ago … and she came here,” she said, “and she still comes on a regular basis and does pool therapy.
“It has made her realize she’s capable of more than she thought she was,” Hayden said.
Beyond the programs and equipment at the facility, Osborne and Hayden enjoy the bonds they’ve built with instructors, staff members and other members.
“I continue to come because of the wonderful people I’ve met here,” Osborne said.
“We met some of the best people ever and made the deepest relationships,” Hayden said. “When you walk in, they know your name — it’s ‘Cheers.’ ”
The Healthpark will be celebrating its 25th-year anniversary the week of Oct. 23, which will include a $25 enrollment fee special to encourage new members to join along with membership meals being offered throughout the week as a “thank you” to current members, Griffin said.
“We know that there are other options, but we’re thankful to folks for choosing us,” Griffin said. For more information about the upcoming celebration, visit facebook.com/healthpark.
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.