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A ceremonial tree flanked by American flags heads toward the top of the Wellness Village construction project in Mead Valley. | Photo courtesy of Riverside County
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Officials from the Riverside University Health System and county assembled for a ceremony to commemorate a key phase in the development of the 18-acre Wellness Village in Mead Valley.
The project’s structural framework is now completed, bringing Riverside County a step closer to having an innovative health care facility that combines medical care along with behavioral health and social support services in one centralized location.
“Each beam that has been placed represents our dedication to creating a future where quality, holistic care is available right in the heart of our communities,” Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina, whose 1st District includes the forthcoming health center, said in a statement. “With the Wellness Village, we’re ensuring that families and individuals have access to a full spectrum of healthcare services without having to leave the community.”
Representatives from project developer PMB, an experienced builder of health care facilities, led the “topping-out ceremony” that featured “the ancient practice of placing a tree on top of a new building, (symbolizing) the hope and promise of a new approach to health that will breathe new life into the local community.”
The California Department of Health Care Services awarded more than $80 million in grants to RUHS to build the Wellness Village, the concept of which has been recognized as a model for use statewide, officials said. The project’s total cost is $580 million, with construction and eventual facility operations expected to stimulate the local economy by creating hundreds of permanent jobs and significant economic activity.
“The Wellness Village represents a new era in community health care,” Dr. Matthew Chang, RUHS behavioral health director, said in a statement. “By combining medical, behavioral and social services under one roof, we are creating an environment that fosters growth in healing, resilience and long-term well-being.”
Officials expect the facility to open in early 2027. It will feature Riverside County’s first “crisis residential treatment” and mental health urgent care for children, “offering crucial resources designed to keep local families from having to seek those services outside the area,” according to the county.
The new medical campus will provide a variety of behavioral health services, primary and specialty medical care, dental care, substance use disorder treatment, a pharmacy open to the public and on-site accommodations for families with children undergoing treatment.
The modern campus will also have “lively, community-centric amenities” including therapeutic green spaces, a public market and a cafe, officials said.
More information about the Wellness Village is on the internet at ruhealth.org/wellness-village.
