The city of Covington, Kentucky, will celebrate the grand reopening of Austinburg Park on Saturday, May 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Located at East 15th Street and Eastern Avenue, the park will unveil a series of enhancements and host a family-friendly event.
The reopening will include appearances by FC Cincinnati’s mascot, Gary the Lion, and DJ Pizza Boy Jaws. Visitors can enjoy free food and drinks, games, giveaways, and a range of activities for all ages.
The revamped park features several improvements such as new sidewalks, repaved basketball courts with new goals and lines, a driveway and parking facility, new playground equipment, and seating for the FC Cincinnati soccer mini pitch. It also includes a new shelter house, an informational kiosk, a dog park, pickleball courts, and enhanced landscaping with flower beds, raised beds, and trees.
Mayor Ron Washington expressed his enthusiasm for the upgraded park: “Recreational spaces like Austinburg Park are a wonderful way for our community to enjoy the outdoors. I am very appreciative of the efforts of the Parks and Recreation team which has worked hard to renovate and improve the park. I hope that families from across the community will head to the park to enjoy the playground, shelter, and other amenities."
The redevelopment of Austinburg Park was a community effort that began in 2021, with Covington Parks & Recreation staff involving the Eastside neighborhood in planning sessions to gather ideas for the park's redesign.
Covington Parks and Recreation Manager Greg Stacy credited community involvement for the project’s success: “It’s been a long process, and we truly couldn’t have done it without the support of our community – whether through donations, volunteer efforts, or simply showing up and staying engaged. Their involvement made all the difference.”
Stacy also thanked FC Cincinnati and Rizzo Bros. for their role in the redevelopment. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “Their contributions were instrumental in bringing this vision to life.”