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Peaselburg Park equipment on the way; hoops clinic for Covington youths Saturday at Randolph Park


The $80,000 rebuild of Peaselburg Park is set to begin – and when it’s finished, neighbors will see a facility designed for use by a wider age group.

“One of the coolest things happening to the park is that it’s moving from a place strictly for kids 9 and under to one that is multi-generational,” said Covington Parks & Recreation Manager Rosie Santos said.

An event at the then-named Peaselburg Little People’s Playground last year gave residents a chance to choose equipment for its renovation (provided photos).

The Covington City Commission recently approved a contract for $67,280.80 with Bluegrass Recreation Sales and Installation for equipment and its installation. The City will also buy some additional equipment for the small park on Howell Street.

Installation will begin once the equipment is ordered and delivered, Santos said.

At one time, the playground – formerly known as Peaselburg Little People’s Playground – had swings and associated equipment, primarily for young kids.

When it’s finished in mid-July or early August, it will have:

•Fitness equipment for ages 13 and older.
•A climbing play set.
•Soccer goals.
•A basketball goal.
•Benches and shaded picnic tables.
•A bicycle rack.
•Swings.
•A water fountain.

Santos said Parks & Recreation staff held a year-long community engagement effort for residents to give input.

“We addressed everything from the kinds of equipment to where it was placed to even the colors it would be,” she said. “They were involved at every step of the process, and I think they will be thrilled with its completion.”

The focus on the Howell Street site emerged from an assessment of Covington’s parks and playgrounds conducted by a citizens Park Advisory Group a couple of years ago.

The City is home to about 990 acres of public parks and open space at 40 sites ranging in size from tiny playgrounds to the 700-plus-acre Devou Park. The City itself operates and maintains 30 sites totaling almost 200 acres spread throughout its 19 neighborhoods (the rest are owned by public and private organizations, as well as nonprofit entities and schools).

Working off a detailed inventory, the citizen group identified potential improvement projects and prioritized them on an overlapping scheduling. With that scheduled, Father Hanses Park in Lewisburg is completed, Peaselburg Park will be finished this summer, and Barb Cook Park in Latonia is in the planning stage.

Randolph Park hoops clinic to focus on skill-building

An impromptu “photo shoot” at Barb Cook Park last year showcased basketball style, but a clinic at Randolph Park on June 1 will focus on teaching skills.

Whether your kid has NBA dreams or wants to try out for their school team this fall, the City of Covington is holding a basketball skills clinic Saturday (June 1) at Randolph Park.

“This is all about the fundamentals – teaching kids how to dribble, pass, and shoot,” said Jess Link, Recreation Program Coordinator for the City’s Parks & Recreation Division. “We will have experienced players at stations teaching basic skills, and we’ll be promoting a spirit of fun, rather than competition.”

The clinic is free, co-ed, and open to youth 9 to 14 years old. It takes place 9 a.m. to noon at Randolph, which is located at 226 E. Eighth St.

Recreation staff will be joined by volunteers, including Lauren Tibbs, a local star who played at Marquette University and Bowling Green State University, where she averaged 12.5 points a game.

Link said the City hoped to make the clinic an annual event.

“This is Kentucky, after all,” she said. “When we took surveys and asked Covington youth what they wanted us to offer, they said they wanted basketball. We will see how this event goes and hopefully make it bigger and even better next year.”

City of Covington


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