Hospital cares for its natural surroundings

Penn State medical center makes landscaping integral to its community-minded mission.

Image courtesy of Tree Campus Healthcare

Facilities professionals at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center not only conduct inventory assessments inside the hospital’s walls, but outside as well.

Each year, the facility conducts an annual inventory and assessment of campus trees. Any trees removed for health or construction reasons are replaced by at least one new tree. In fact, a project this year focused on bringing forested areas of the campus back to a healthier condition and planting 2,400 new trees to expand the forested areas. The facility even called on an arborist from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a certified forester for expert guidance.

Terry Kreiser, facilities operations director, and Steve Furmanski, grounds manager, are close partners in the management of the 552-acre landscape that surrounds Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. 

“We have been methodically working to incorporate landscape into physical health and well-being in the last couple of years, and it’s continuing to grow,” Kreiser says. “We are creating an environment where people can enjoy the outdoors, exercise, and have a positive impact on their physical and mental health.”  

Walking and mountain biking trails traverse the medical center’s forested campus and connect to the community trail system.