Kingwood Center Gardens pairs wellness programming with native-plant education

At Kingwood Center Gardens, the Wellness Walk and Morning Stretch on Sept. 9, 2026 offered Mansfield residents a 45-minute session built around a three-quarter-mile walk and stretch. The next day, the Native Trees, Shrubs and Perennials in the Landscape class on Sept. 10 turned to identifying and using native plants in home landscapes.

By Sept. 13, both programs were over.

A walk and stretch

The Sept. 9 wellness program ran from 11 to 11:45 a.m. It began with a three-quarter-mile loop walk, followed by a 10-minute stretch session designed to improve muscle tone, flexibility and range of motion.

OhioHealth Fitness Center partnered with Kingwood on the program. It was free for Kingwood members, $10 for nonmembers and free for SilverSneakers participants who provided their number.

Native plants at home

The Sept. 10 class began at 5 p.m. The hands-on garden session explored the beauty and benefits of native trees, shrubs and perennials, with an emphasis on identifying and using them at home.

The class cost $8 for Kingwood members and $12 for nonmembers.

Plan a visit

Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 N. Trimble Road, is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in September, with admission sales ending 30 minutes before closing.

Kingwood’s two-day pairing offered a guided outdoor session for $10 or less, followed by an $8-to-$12 lesson on how to identify and use native plants at home.