Triangle East: Focused on Health and Wellness
Excellent outdoor amenities and top-notch health care fuel this region in eastern North Carolina.
The Triangle East region of North Carolina is prioritizing health and wellness opportunities these days, going out of its way to create youth sports activities and mapping out new plans for parks and trails. Here’s a look at what the region is doing to enhance outdoor activities in Smithfield, Selma and Johnston County.
One example is in the Town of Wilson’s Mills, which has introduced the Wilson’s Mills Youth Rugby program. Practices and games are open to boys and girls ages 6-14 throughout Johnston County, and the league offers both touch/flag rugby and tackle rugby choices, with all games played locally on Saturday mornings.
My Kid’s Club Railroad Days 5K, North Carolina’s oldest 5K, occurs annually in October during Selma’s Railroad Days Festival. The athletic event presents a swift downtown course, including a delightful Caboose Run for kids. All proceeds contribute to MKC’s after-school education programs in Selma and Smithfield.
In addition, young people throughout Johnston County have access to several organized sports via the Greater Cleveland Athletic Association. Nearly 2,500 youth are currently signed up to participate in spring and fall baseball, softball, soccer and volleyball leagues, as well as winter and summer basketball.
Trails Crossroads of the State
Further proof that the Triangle East community is intentionally thinking about adding and developing more green space for community activity is the recent hiring of a Johnston County Parks, Greenways and Open Space director – a new position.
Adrian O’Neal serves as director of the department, and much of his efforts are going toward applying for grants to fund additional planning, design and execution of recreation projects in Johnston County. The department is also hoping that voters pass a bond referendum in 2024 that will help pay for more trails and greenway projects throughout the county.
The Parks, Greenways and Open Space department is also receiving help from several recreation advocacy groups in the region, including Friends of Johnston County Parks. The nonprofit Friends was formed in 2020 by hundreds of volunteer residents interested in enhancing and expanding parks and open space opportunities throughout the Triangle East region.
“We do whatever we can to assist the general work of the Parks, Greenways and Open Space program, and we hope to engage more residents in recreation efforts,” says Derrick Applewhite Jr., Friends of Johnston County Parks chair. “Our group also looks to help acquire property to develop into recreational assets across Johnston County.”
Applewhite says the Triangle East region is already “the trails crossroads of the state,” with the East Coast Greenway running north to south from Maine to Florida and right through Johnston County. In addition, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail spans east to west in North Carolina from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, and it also passes through Johnston County.
“These days, there are several projects underway with plans to eventually connect small Johnston County trails to those two major statewide trails,” Applewhite says. “For example, several farmers are being asked for easements so that more trail links can be established. Our hope at Friends is that, in the future, everyone in Johnston County can hop on a trail very close to their home or business – all while maintaining the rural character of this region.”
Plans for First Regional Park
Applewhite adds that Johnston County commissioners recently purchased 70 acres in the Cleveland community to establish the first regional park owned by the county. The land was previously used to grow soybeans and other crops, and the county is in the process of putting together a master plan and acquiring state grants to develop the acreage for recreation.
“There will be sports fields, trails and playgrounds, and the county commissioners should be commended for knowing how important these recreational resources will be to the community,” Applewhite says. “These types of projects also bring dollars and economic development to a region, because locating businesses want their employees to stay active and healthy to further enhance their quality of life.”
10 Things to Know About UNC Health Johntson
With deep roots in the Triangle East region of North Carolina and an array of accolades and accreditations, UNC Health Johnston provides important resources and keeps top-quality care close to home for residents.
Get to know this hometown health system:
1. UNC Health Johnston is licensed for 179 acute care beds – 129 at the main hospital in Smithfield and 50 at its second location in Clayton – and is seeking state approval for 24 additional beds in Clayton.
2. Six more behavioral health beds are coming soon, bringing that specialty in Smithfield to 26.
3. More than 2,300 employees serve the community, and nearly 800 physicians make up the medical staff.
4. The hospital cares for its community through more than 72,000 emergency department visits and nearly 7,000 surgeries annually across its two campuses.
5. HealthQuest Fitness and Wellness Center offers medically based programs to improve health and fitness, including aquatics, group exercise classes and personal trainers.
6. Johnston’s Project Access is a physician-led initiative serving low-income patients ages 19 through 65 who lack health insurance, making health care services available to the most vulnerable.
7. Johnston holds accreditations as a chest pain center, vascular testing center, cancer treatment center and primary stroke center.
8. Healthgrades has awarded Johnston five stars for treatment of heart attacks and for coronary interventional procedures, along with the Patient Safety Excellence Award. The latter places it in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide.
9. For multiple years the hospital has earned the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines award recognizing stroke and diabetes care.
10. Newsweek magazine recognized UNC Health Johnston as one of the World’s Best Hospitals for 2023.
Get to Know the Triangle East
Want to learn more about living and working in Smithfield, Selma and the Triangle East region? Check out the latest edition of Livability Triangle East, North Carolina.