In early August, PDS staff completed a draft of Covington Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan. The document was designed to help City staff make important future decisions regarding parks and recreation. The guiding principle of the plan is that a healthy, thriving park system strengthens communities and enriches the economy of a city by making its neighborhoods more vibrant and attractive places to live and work.
The recommendations within the document are intended to guide and prioritize future improvements and investments into facilities owned and maintained by the City. The plan is the result of multiple efforts to create a plan that incorporates input from the public and city staff to combine local knowledge and institutional history for the betterment of Covington.
“The plan recognizes the vital role in promoting new private investment, increasing property values, city revenues, and also attracting new businesses and residents,” said Mike Ionna, AICP project manager. He continued, “bottom line–parks are a good financial investment for a city.”
The planning process included an inventory of all park assets and facilities within the city, a digital survey for public input, a demographic analysis of specific park facilities, extensive research on best management practices and a comparative analysis utilizing National Park and Recreation Association software to benchmark Covington park facilities against those in similar cities.
The document is currently being reviewed by city staff and is intended to be taken before the City Commission for adoption later this fall.