A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Progress continuing to bloom as litter/graffiti removal returns to Covington’s Madison Avenue


The Covington Business Council is announcing two major initiatives designed to beautify Downtown Covington and help the Council fulfill its mission to advocate for a healthy business climate in the City.

In the past nine months 80 oversized round and square planters filled with bright and colorful seasonal and annual flowers have popped up along Madison Avenue between Fourth and Seventh Streets. Phase One of the planter project occurred last August and was funded mainly by the CBC providing $30,000 for 39 round planters and securing $3,000 from Renaissance Covington to help cover the flower cost.

CBC Executive Director Pat Frew said Phases 2 and 3 of the planter project were completed earlier this month through a $50,000 grant provided by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. US Bank Foundation, which has been a longtime supporter of the CBC.

CBC has contracted with Tag Team Graffiti to water and tend the planters through the fall. CBC is also excited to announce it is contracting with Tag Team to pick up litter and remove graffiti in the Central Business District as far south as Seventh Street through the end of the year. Those efforts will also be funded by the remainder of the Haile grant in 2017.

Some of the planters made possible through a $50,000 grant provided by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. US Bank Foundation

“Our plan is to continue the litter and graffiti program permanently through CBC funds starting in 2018,” Frew said. “A large number of businesses and stakeholders have told us how important this initiative was when we ran a similar program five years ago as a pilot program for an unsuccessful attempt at starting a Business Improvement District in Covington.”

Frew also says the CBC is working on two additional initiatives near the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and secondary hotels such as the Radisson, Holiday Inn and Courtyard By Marriott hotels. More will be announced soon about those efforts.

The Council continues to see tremendous growth in its membership numbers, surpassing 300 for the first time in early May, which represents a 134 percent increase from the 130 member businesses in 2010. Frew anticipates that as revenues increase from new members, CBC will have the capacity to create incentive programs to benefit member businesses and owners of commercial buildings in the downtown.


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One Comment

  1. Jack Combs says:

    Great job on planters and clean up! How about “free” parking after 4pm and all day Saturday and Sunday = more visitors for eats, drinks and shopping?

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