Leadership Clinton volunteer project will further enhance Hale Arboretum

      Over the past few years, CMH Regional Health System Community Development and Facility Services have collaborated to update the landscaping, prune trees, remove dead trees and old ground cover as well as clean and repair the pond that borders Main Street and the former main entrance to historic Hale Hospital.           

      Leadership Clinton was looking for class projects earlier this year and current class member Scott Henman, manager of Facility and Security Services at CMH, suggested completion of what has been referred to as the Hale Nature Trail.           

      CMH Community Development director Dana Dunn came up with the idea several years ago when he was president of the Wilmington City Parks Board.       “Since it is CMH’s intent to maintain that area as green space, I thought a natural trail that runs along the tree line connecting would be an excellent addition to that part of our campus,” Dunn said. “Scott Henman and I have talked to different potential partners over the years about developing this and I appreciate that he had the foresight to suggest it to his Leadership Clinton classmates. Now with the help of Leadership Clinton, we will get it done.”

      This trail can be utilized by CMH employees as well as other pedestrians who often cut through the hospital or hospital parking lot. The Hale family planted a variety of trees and other plants in that area over the years so it could possibly even be used for a biology lab for local schools and colleges. A natural trail is a good start for what could be a paved trail in the future if warranted, Dunn said.           

The connector trail will start at the stone arch by the Main Street pond, follow the tree line and end at the Margery Hale Bridge. This is the bridge at the south end of the hospital parking lot, which connects to the paved trail.            

      “We have a very aggressive time line and want to open the trail on the Fourth of July,” says Greg Daniel, one of the project leaders. “This way it can be used this summer. We are looking for volunteers to help with a "clean and clear" day this Saturday, May 22, starting at 9 a.m.”           

      The plan is to trim some tree branches and cut back some overgrowth for a comfortable and safe walking trail.  “We also want to scrape the top soil in preparation for trail construction,” Daniel says.           

Trail construction day is scheduled for Saturday, June 5, also beginning at 9 a.m. The plan that day is to lay out landscaper's fabric and cover it with wood chips that have been piled up along the tentative trail by Facility Services over the past couple of years.

      (The chips came from dead trees that were removed from the arboretum and the intent is to do a one-to-one replacement for all dead trees.)           

      Those interested in helping either day, can contact Greg at gd1320@juno.com or 725-5106.

      Other project team members are Dessie Buchanan, Peggy Scott and Ron Walter.

Hale Hospital Work Continues           

      Initial restoration and renovation of historic and long dormant Hale Hospital, made possible by a $235,620 federal grant, should be completed by mid-summer.           

      The grant from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is funding the stabilization of the abandoned structure though additional monies will be needed to further ready the building for potential occupancy as non-clinical offices, potential meeting and wellness space and possibly even a health care-related museum.           

      Hale Hospital, built by Dr. Kelley Hale, opened in 1923 as Clinton County’s first hospital and remained open until 1964. A portion of the building later became offices for the Wilmington City School District who vacated the building in the 1980s.           

      In 1994, it was gifted in a charitable trust to CMH by Dr. Kelley Hale’s son and daughter-in-law, the late Dr. Nathan Hale and Margery Hale. The 15+ acres surrounding Hale Hospital, which was also part of the gift, allowed the expansion of Clinton Memorial Hospital and campus as part of a $50 million building and renovation project from 2000-2005.           

      When completed in a few months, Hale Hospital will have a new roof, restored terra cotta coping along the roof border, insulated coverage for many broken windows, and new electric and heat sources. In addition, lead and asbestos was abated; some trees were removed that were growing to close to the building and the years of debris covering the floors of the two story structure will be removed.           

      The hospital has both medical and architectural significance. At the time of its opening, it earned recognition as one of the most modern small hospitals in America.

CMH Foundation Funds Help Pay For Part of the Plan           

      CMH’s Hale Arboretum Preservation and Nature Trail Project is being funded in part with Dr. Nathan and Margery Hale Endowment monies held in the CMH Foundation. Those endowment funds also provided the 5 percent match required to receive federal funding to restore Hale Hospital.           

      In 2008, landscaping, tree pruning and other improvements on the former hospital grounds represented the start of a long term project to also preserve the integrity of the arboretum created by Dr. Kelley Hale and nourished by his descendants. Initial work was at what will become the nature trail’s Main Street trailhead--the stone archway which was the original entrance to Lakewood Park and Hale Hospital, according to the Hale family.           

      The first steps included the removal of lower branches along Main Street to improve the visibility of the arboretum and pond; the removal of dead trees and shrubs; removal of declining branches in trees and shrubs, the clean-up and mulching of existing beds in the front portion of the arboretum; and the redesign of the area around the stone archway with lower maintenance plantings.            

      Other plans on the horizon include the removal of trees whose roots are cracking the pond foundation and repair of the pond foundation itself.           

      Meanwhile, CMH disaster preparedness coordinator Gene Hook is working with city and county officials to possibly expand the Margery Hale Bridge so that it could accommodate emergency traffic in the event that the hospital’s main entrances are ever blocked.

      Leadership Clinton [DBA Clinton County Leadership Institute (CCLI)] is a 501 c3 non-profit community leadership organization whose mission is to develop, inspire, and connect people today to shape our tomorrow. CCLI accomplishes its mission through continuous improvement of engaging adult, youth, and seminar programs fueled with leadership capacity building, community projects, and community awareness. Find out more online at www.cclead.org or by calling (937) 382-7120. The application process and recruitment for the class of 2011 begins in June.