By Paul Stewart
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sky Lakes Medical Center

Sky Lakes Medical Center’s investment in Klamath Commons is another demonstration of our commitment to health – the health of the people we serve as well as the health of our community – and a bold statement about the future of Klamath Falls.

Hundreds of people from throughout the community on July 1 helped officially open the park in the city block bounded by Main Street, Klamath Avenue, and 11th and 12th streets at the north end of downtown. What was once the site of a burned-out building and two mostly dilapidated structures now is a delightful entrance to the business district and an inviting space where families and friends can gather and enjoy.

The park’s opening is another milestone in our collective journey toward being a healthier community. It’s further evidence of how Sky Lakes is attempting to transform health care by adding resources “upstream” in the care continuum.

It is the newest installment of a decade-long campaign of encouraging people to make lifestyle changes – move more, eat better, don’t smoke, and, if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation – that will contribute to their personal health and a healthier Klamath Falls.

We believe that an emphasis on prevention is the future. We must move toward more health care and less sick care as we take care of our patients’ needs. Research shows that healthy lifestyle choices, mostly associated with more physical activity, can decrease as many as 35 chronic conditions.

Klamath Commons and Kit Carson Park, with its playground upgrades from another Sky Lakes investment, naturally encourage people to get up and move, to socialize, to relax and destress – all vitally important components of good health.

Further, when we make investments in parks, in addition to creating peaceful green space and inviting opportunities for exercise and relaxation, we leverage many other positive things for the community. Civic improvement projects like Klamath Commons and Kit Carson Park’s play area send the unmistakably clear message that we will invest in the things that we believe are the most important to our community, and that we value the benefits those things bring.

The Sky Lakes leadership believes that, as the region’s largest employer, our organization must be a good corporate citizen. As such, we actively work to show Klamath Falls is a welcoming, thriving community that encourages appropriate economic development while simultaneously endeavoring to make it easier to move more and stress less.

Klamath Commons tells the world “we care.” It shows that we care about taking care of ourselves and each other; we care about creating inviting places for our families and friends to enjoy; and we care about our community.