Jackson Hospital Breaks Ground on New Therapy Center
By: Shelia Mader
Jackson Hospital officials, board members, community leaders, and guests gathered Monday, June 8, to break ground on the hospital's new Therapy Center at 3030 Hospital Drive, marking another major milestone in the transformation of the former Golson Elementary School property into a growing healthcare campus. The new facility is expected to expand rehabilitation services while bringing multiple therapy programs together under one roof.
The approximately 10,000-square-foot center will house physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services, along with an aquatic therapy pool associated with Chipola Fitness Center. Hospital officials have said the project will allow patients to receive a broader range of rehabilitation services in a centralized location rather than traveling between multiple sites.
According to construction documents, the facility will be located at 3030 Hospital Drive on the former Golson campus and will encompass approximately 10,156 square feet. Plans call for a one-story building designed specifically for therapy and rehabilitation services.
The therapy center is one of the first major components of Jackson Hospital's long-range expansion project. The hospital acquired the former Golson Elementary School property in 2021 following a partnership involving the hospital, the City of Marianna, and the Jackson County School Board. Since then, portions of the campus have been demolished, renovated, or repurposed as part of a larger vision to create a centralized healthcare hub for the region.
Jackson Hospital Vice President of Support Services Rex Torbett previously said the therapy center is intended to consolidate rehabilitation services while meeting growing demand for patient care. The larger redevelopment plan also includes a proposed medical office building, ambulatory surgery center, imaging services, and future expansion of specialty healthcare programs.
Hospital officials estimate that the overall redevelopment of the former Golson property could ultimately represent an investment of $45 million to $50 million. Support infrastructure, including the extension of Hospital Drive and construction of Marianna's first roundabout serving the campus, has already been completed through a combination of grants and local partnerships.
As construction begins on the Therapy Center, hospital leaders say the project represents another step toward creating a comprehensive healthcare destination designed to improve access to care for residents throughout Jackson County and the surrounding area.
