By Sadie Hunter

More than 2,000 IU Health employees volunteered their time all over the state on Sept. 18 as part of the health organization’s annual Day of Service.

In Noblesville, approximately 50, representing IU Health North and IU Health Saxony, gave their time to improve features of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation’s newest park, Bray Family Homestead at the border of Noblesville and Westfield.

The collaboration between IU Health and the parks department resulted in a 22-plot community garden, where two raised, wheelchair-accessible garden beds were built from scratch, along with seating along the perimeter of the garden.

On a different side of the park, small groups worked together as a team to build a new footpath through a previously un-walkable area and to build safety railing along a creek bridge.

“We’re a partner with the community, and we want to do more than just meet people’s healthcare needs,” said Joy Davis, manager of Customer Experience and Community Engagement at IU Health North and IU Health Saxony. “We go through a process every three years where we identify what the health needs in the county are. So, one of them we’ve been focusing on for the past three years is obesity prevention. We feel like rejuvenating the parks and adding new assets to the parks really helps.”