The Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation together with Renaissance Covington and other local partners have activated the green space at 620 Scott Street (at Pike Street and Scott Blvd) to be a pop-up park and play area for the community.
Madhatter Park officially opens on Thursday, August 2, with a free, open to the public launch event from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring lawn games, live music and local bites and sips.
The Gateway Foundation (the nonprofit arm of Gateway Technical and Community College) has owned the green space since the Mad Hatter music venue closed several years ago.
“When Renaissance Covington approached us about activating this space as a park and play area, the Gateway Foundation was very interested in making this an active community space,” says Amber Decker, Executive Director of the Gateway Foundation. “The Foundation hopes that this space fosters a sense of community by providing an outdoor “play” space in the urban core. We hope that businesses and organizations might make use of the space for outings and gatherings as well.”
Madhatter Park aims to foster community through play, creativity, and urban gardening in its Alice in Wonderland inspired look and design. A team from Renaissance Covington board members designed the space (including architects from Hub+Weber).
“The park has so many different elements that it needed a unifying theme to bring them all together. Inspired by the original Madlot on 7thStreet and the Mad Hatter club that used to occupy the site, the park developed a whimsical Alice in Wonderland theme,” says Erin Graham, Project Manager, Hub + Weber Architects. “The colorful picnic tables sit on a skewed checkerboard of pavers, while rows of sunflowers create a bright backdrop for events and activities. String lights over the tables, raised community garden beds, and changing field paint patterns will create different experiences every time people visit. We even have a Wonderland-inspired wayfinding sign to direct people to local points of interest in this urban core green space.”
While Hub+Weber designed the space, Madhatter Park is truly a collaborative effort with various community partners providing resources to bring this unique green area to life.
PLAY:
- Sports Field Design: Bi-weekly, a field design for baseball, soccer etc. will be mowed by the the Gateway foundation and (eco-friendly) chalked into the grass. Grab a ball and some friends to play!
- Biking around town? Take a break at Madhatter Park with bike racks.
- Sit and stay awhile at one of the (6) Picnic Tables borrowed from the Northern Kentucky Picnic Table Project or rest easy in one of the pallet chairs or bleachers.
- Embrace your inner Alice in Wonderland and check out a Croquet set (or other games and books) from the Kenton County Public Library to use at the Park.
“Bringing people together in fun ways and fun spaces helps us be a better community. Public green spaces increase our abilities to celebrate our diversity and rich history,” said Julia Allegrini, Community Engagement Manager, Kenton County Public Library.
The Mad Hatter gives us another place to be the best Covington we can be. The Kenton County Library will be providing things like Whiffle balls and bats, Nerf footballs and frisbees for anyone to sign out from the Library to use in the space (at the Covington branch, lawn games such as such as bocce and croquet are available to check out as well). The green space will also be a perfect place to relax with a good book that can be either checked out or downloaded.”
Local artist Julie Harwood works on the mural on the wall of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky (photo by Mark Hansel)
CREATIVITY:
- A “Grow WIth Us” Artistic Mural will be on the north-facing wall of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky
- Landscape design and Alice in Wonderland signage brought to Madhatter Park by Hub+Weber.
- Additional creative elements pulled from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland will include WayPost Signs, Mushroom and Cheshire Cat art installments.
“The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky (ESNKY) is thrilled to partner with the agencies involved to activate this green space to create a colorful and inviting space in Covington. ESNKY has been in Covington since 2008 and operating as an emergency shelter to adult men and women,” said Kim M. Webb, Executive Director, Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky. “The mural being painted on the north wall will have a bright sky blue background and sunflowers painted 6 to 6 1/5 feet tall to tie into the Madhatter overall design. A local artist, Julie Harwood, will be painting the sunflowers and we will be utilizing Kenton County Detention Center work crew to paint the blue sky.”
URBAN GARDENING:
- Madhatter features (6) raised produce beds provided by the Covington Farmers Market and maintained by the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky. The beds are growing local vegetables; anyone in the community is welcome to enjoy these vegetables fresh off the vine!
- To add beauty, shade and light, native trees will be planted by Wolf Tree Farms with string lights throughout the trees provided by Renaissance Covington.
- Enjoy the beauty and brightness of Madhatter Park’s Sunflower Wall.
“Providing fresh and local food to the community is our mission each week of the Covington Farmers Market. Adding produce beds and a sunflower wall in Madhatter Park helps share that mission,” said Megan Ayers Co-Manager of the Covington Farmers Market/Grants and Programs Director, Renaissance Covington. “We’re looking forward to neighbors picking a fresh tomato off a Madhatter vine as they enjoy the park,”
Much like other Covington City Parks, Madhatter Park does not allow alcohol and will close at dusk. Madhatter Park may be reserved for special functions, fill out a reservation form here.
Madhatter Park and play area is a temporary installment, which will be maintained through fall 2018 by a generous donation from the Anna T. Milburn Family Foundation and efforts from community partners.The Gateway Foundation owns the property and will maintain it in coordination with the future needs of Gateway Community & Technical College. Any future use will be aligned with the City of Covington’s vision and plans for the area.
Madhatter Park is sponsored by the following generous community partners:
The Anna T. Milburn Foundation, The City of Covington, Renaissance Covington, The Catalytic Fund, MKSK, Hub+Weber, Covington Farmers Market, Gateway Community & Technical College Foundation, Kenton County Public Library, The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, Baker Hunt Arts & Cultural Center and Wolf Tree Farms.
For additional information, click here.
Renaissance Covington is a small nonprofit aimed at revitalizing Covington’s historic downtown through creative placemaking, special events, community programming, and business support.
Renaissance Covington
