Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital Earns 2025 National Tree Campus Recognition from Arbor Day Foundation
(PRUnderground) May 11th, 2026
The Arbor Day Foundation has named Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital a national 2025 Tree Campus, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to enhancing community well‑being through tree education, property investment, and community engagement.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Through its Tree Campus program, the organization recognizes schools, universities, and healthcare facilities that use trees and green spaces to support health and strengthen communities.
“Trees play a vital role in supporting healthier environments and stronger communities,” said Glen Garrick, director of system sustainability for Intermountain Health. “At Intermountain, sustainability is closely tied to our mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible.”
Trees and green spaces have been shown to reduce stress and improve health outcomes for patients, visitors, and caregivers. In addition to their health benefits, trees also provide important community benefits, including improved air filtration and quality, greater campus cooling during extreme heat events, and better stormwater management.
Trees also require significantly less water than traditional turf, making them an important part of long‑term water conservation efforts.
“Through ongoing investments like planting trees and expanding green spaces, we are improving campus environments in ways that support healing, conserve water, and benefit both people and the planet,” said Garrick.
To earn Tree Campus recognition, healthcare facilities must meet five core standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation, including maintaining a tree care plan, supporting community forestry projects, celebrating the connection between trees and human health, and investing in ongoing campus tree programs.
In 2025, Intermountain American Fork Hospital built on this commitment through significant campus beautification and sustainability efforts.
Over the past couple of years, the hospital has planted more than 50 new trees, helping expand shaded areas and enhance the natural environment.
This work included the addition of a new green space and the creation of the caregiver patio, which transformed an area near the hospital’s medical surgical unit that was previously covered in landscaping rock into an inviting oasis of trees, plants, and picnic tables.
The space now offers caregivers a peaceful place to enjoy a meal, take a break, and recharge during their workday.
“At Intermountain American Fork Hospital, we see firsthand how a thoughtfully designed environment can support comfort, healing, and connection,” said Jason Wilson, president of Intermountain American Fork Hospital. “This recognition reflects our commitment to caring for the whole community, our patients, our caregivers, and the place we are proud to call home.”
The work behind this recognition is supported by dedicated caregivers and support teams who care for the hospital campus every day.
“Our landscaping team takes great pride in maintaining the trees and green spaces around the hospital,” said Keith Pennington, who leads the landscaping team at Intermountain American Fork Hospital. “We’ve seen how these spaces are used and appreciated by caregivers and visitors, and it’s rewarding to know our work is contributing to a healthier, more welcoming environment.”
To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus program, visit arborday.org.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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