Agency official outlines Covington's 2026 priorities, including parks-district vote and trail construction

An agency official told residents that Covington's priorities for 2026 will include a proposed ballot measure on parks funding, expanded public safety staffing and several transportation and infrastructure projects.

The official said, “We will ask residents this August to vote on whether to form a metropolitan parks district to help fund parks and recreation initiatives that the general fund cannot do alone.” The statement framed the ballot as a funding measure intended to support parks and recreation work beyond what the city's general fund can cover.

On public safety, the official said the city plans to hire additional police officers and will pursue “a new state funding approach” to support that expansion. The remarks did not specify the number of officers, the timeline for hiring, or the exact funding mechanism.

Transportation projects highlighted included continued efforts to secure funding to widen State Route 516 to the east city limits, and starting construction on the first phase of the Jenkins Creek Trail. The official said the trail is being funded “primarily by grants” and "will ultimately connect from Lake Pointe to Jenkins Creek Park to Founders Park and Downtown Covington when fully complete." No construction schedule or grant sources were named in the remarks.

The official also announced plans to “implement a new website that is more efficient and accessible” to improve communications with the community, and to construct “a new maintenance facility that will transition our operations from a temporary location to a much needed permanent home.”

The address concluded with a general pledge: “And we will continue preparing Covington for the future strategically, responsibly, and together.” The official did not provide specific dates, dollar amounts, or detailed timelines for most initiatives. The next concrete civic step noted was the planned August vote on a metropolitan parks district.