Author: Matt Butler

The Devou Park Disc Golf Course is a valuable community asset, and it is unacceptable that it has been vandalized, not once, but twice. Overnight on January 10th, 2023, the majority of the disc golf baskets were crushed, bent, or ripped out of the ground. The Devou Good Foundation is offering $1,000 and an anonymous donor is offering an additional $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this criminal act.

This is not just an attack on the course, it’s an attack on our community and the shared spaces we all enjoy. We urge anyone with information to come forward and help bring the perpetrator to justice. If you have any information regarding this crime, please contact the Covington Police Non-Emergency Line at 859-292-2222. Your information will be kept confidential.

We hope that everyone will join us in taking a stand against vandalism in our community. These actions are not just costly but also undermine the sense of safety and well-being of the people who live in and use the area.

Disc golf is a game for all ages, it’s a game that brings people together, and it’s a game that encourages healthy outdoor activities. Let’s support our community and make it the place we all want to call home. Let’s work together to make sure that those who vandalize our park are held accountable for their actions, so that our public spaces are safe and available for everyone.

Free public WiFi is coming to downtown Covington, starting with a party on Friday, June 8.

Renaissance Covington and Cincinnati Bell will welcome visitors to the Roebling Point business district for a kick-off celebration. People in downtown Covington will be able to connect to the internet from sidewalks and outdoor tables, and find access to wayfinding information about events, entertainment, shopping, dining, and businesses.

The party is dubbed “Light Up Covington” – and features the slogan, “Covington is about to get lit.”

“Public Wi-Fi offers a new dimension to our urban core by offering a public service while also strengthening public spaces,” said Katie Meyer, executive director of Renaissance Covington. “It opens possibilities for distribution of information and broader community engagement.”

Renaissance Covington is partnering with Cincinnati Bell on the fiber-based network, which is being funded through private funds from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, R.C. Durr Foundation, and from Rebekah Gensler and Matt Butler.

The network is more than a big mobile “hotspot.” It will also connect visitors to a captive portal that will be a hub for location information about downtown and its amenities.

In that regard, the project is an important step in accelerating the newfound momentum that is attracting business investment, residents and visitors to the urban core, City Manager David Johnston said.

“From housing to historic rehabilitation, and entertainment to new job opportunities, there’s an energetic vibe in Covington’s urban core that’s growing stronger by the day,” Johnston said. “And much of that transformation is happening because of strategic public-private partnerships like this public Wi-Fi network.”

Jason Praeter, president of Cincinnati Bell’s entertainment & communications business, said the project demonstrates the company’s “commitment to partnering with civic leaders across the region as we continue our fiber build that supports high-speed, public Wi-Fi networks and Smart City technologies.”

Events on June 8 include a ribbon cutting and a VIP Business Party where local businesses in the affect district will learn how the network can help them. (Businesses should e-mail Smartcity@cinbell.com to attend.) The network will be available in public areas (i.e. sidewalks, streets and corner tables) in an area roughly bounded by 2nd Street to 10th Street and Madison Avenue to Scott Boulevard.

The block party begins at 4 p.m. at Park and Court streets in the Roebling Point District. Food, drink, music and games will be available, as well as live demonstrations.

http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2018/05/30/free-public-wifi-coming-downtown-covington-celebration

-Staff report

This summer, there is a new way to explore Devou Park! Starting Thursday, May 31, park goers can rent a wide variety of bikes from DevouCycle and take advantage of the 11.5 miles of trails in the park as well as other attractions in the surrounding area. 

DevouCycle is kicking off the new service with a ribbon cutting and celebratory bike ride on Thursday, May 31 from 4-7 p.m. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be available for $1 each, and the first 200 attendees will receive a free DevouCycle water bottle. Remarks will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be immediately followed by the bike ride. After the ride, celebration attendees can try out the different bikes for free with an ID and credit card, but are encouraged to bring their own bikes to join in the fun. 

The bike rental service is based out of the Devou Golf and Event Center and will offer a variety of bikes for adults and children including road bikes, mountain bikes, electric bikes, recumbent bikes, tandem bikes, and adaptive hand cycles. Renters with small children unable to ride on their own can rent Dutch bikes, trailers, children’s seats, and balance bikes. All bikes can be used in the park and beyond. https://www.facebook.com/events/278395359367593/

(Covington, KY)—The Devou Good Project, Inc. (DGP) announces the release of the Devou Park Backcountry Trail System Economic Impact Study completed in fall of 2017. The report calculates the economic value of the 12-mile trail system to be $1.8 million annually. The Trail System sees 35,000 visits a year, each with an average soft goods spend of $13.00 at local restaurants and bars afterwards. Users report spending $1500/year on equipment and other hard good purchases. To read the detailed report and recommendations visit https://www.devougood.com/trails.

Matt Butler, DGP member and author of the study believes the importance of the Trail System speaks for itself. “The benefit of our trails extends beyond the known values of health and recreation opportunities for our community. Trails are a valuable public economic asset and as such, we as a community need to invest our time and our dollars into their maintenance.”

The Devou Good Project, Inc. believes building relationships through collaboration is key to bringing positive change to our community. The founding members of DGP are skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Collectively they bring skills and experience from public relations, marketing, the arts, business/entrepreneurism and education fields. This diversified skill set is a valuable resource to the agencies they assist.

We are pleased to release our analysis on the effect of the Backcountry Trail System located in Devou Park, Covington, KY.