Newport Parks are undergoing a renaissance thanks to a local volunteer organization.
Newport Parks Renaissance Commission is celebrating a great year and kicking off spring with a ribbon-cutting Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Buena Vista Park — to thank residents and community partners for significant progress in improving the park.
The Commission is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which increased ability to raise funds for future park improvements.
Over the past two years, volunteers have removed a significant amount of brush to increase the amount of useable space, removed diseased and deceased trees and shrubs, painted playground equipment, mulched, and planted seven new, diverse trees. The shelter got a new roof and new paint, and fescue grass has been planted to create a field for children to play.
One of the most significant park improvements resulted from donations of materials, time, and labor from River Metals Recycling, Building Crafts Inc., Reis Concrete products, and Greg Mettens Landscaping. These donations created a walking/biking concrete trail around the park with a diameter of about 0.3 miles.
The Renaissance Commission also partnered with Newport Recreation Commission to host two Easter Egg hunts at the park and hosted a movie night at the park with about 50 attendees last summer.
Rolf Monuments and Nexigen, Inc. also to the park and the project in the past year.
Saturday’s ribbon-cutting will be followed by music, games, snacks and drinks.
The public is invited.
To donate, make checks payable to Newport Parks Renaissance Commission, Inc. at 627 Park Avenue, Newport, KY 41071.
To get involved as a volunteer or board member, email newportkyparks@gmail.com
Our team currently includes Don and Sherri Spaulding from Clifton; Kyle Randall and Ian Maloney from the West Side; Chris Bednar from the East Row; and Sandra Eismann-Harpen from Cote Brilliante. Over the last two years, these volunteers have invested 1,500+ hours in labor, time, meetings, and fundraising.
Visit the organization’s Facebook page here.