Runners, hikers, and mountain bikers in Covington, Kentucky, have a reason to appreciate the efforts of Dirt Artisans and its founder Chad Irey. The company has played a significant role in developing the trail system within Devou Park. In collaboration with city officials, Dirt Artisans has been instrumental in designing, building, or supervising most of the trails across the 700-acre park.
Recently, Dirt Artisans extended Devou Park's Backcountry Trails by an additional three miles. This expansion brought the total length of the trail network to approximately 16 miles, making it the longest urban trail system in the region and among the top five overall.
Chad Irey's passion for nature began in his childhood and led him to volunteer extensively in trail design and construction before turning this interest into a business venture. Today, Dirt Artisans is recognized nationally for its expertise in surface trail design and construction.
The company's contributions to community development and conservation have earned it a Covington Authenti-CITY award. "The trails that Dirt Artisans has constructed have transformed Devou Park into a regional treasure that welcomes thousands of visitors to Covington each year," said Patrick Duffy, Covington Business Retention and Expansion Manager. "We’re proud to recognize Dirt Artisans as the recipient of a 2025 Authenti-CITY award."
The Authenti-CITY awards were introduced by Covington’s Economic Development team in 2021 during National Economic Development Week. These awards aim to celebrate those who contribute significantly to maintaining authenticity within Covington.