By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
It’s more than just a playground. It’s a place of remembrance for two brothers.
The Villa Hills Civic Club – 729 Rogers Road — held their Playground and Dedication ceremony Friday evening under warm sunshine.
“The Villa Hills Civic Club,” said Ernie (The Fat Man) Brown, former club president and better known for radio fame, “Serves as a central hub for community engagement and improvement initiatives. Committed to enhancing the quality of life for residents.”
For Greg and Amy Fischer, the dedication had a special meaning – observance as well as remembrance.
Three years ago, their sons – Chase and Cole – were killed in a boating crash on Lake Cumberland. The crash involved a boat and a jet ski, according to coroner’s reports at the time. Both victims were on the jet ski when it collided with a boat.
Chase was 18 and brother Cole was 15.
“We were looking for ways to honor our boys,” Greg Fischer told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “We live in Villa Hills, grew up here and as a kid played here.”
Truly a labor of love.
“The community project was made possible through the collaboration and support of Amy and Greg Fischer,” Brown said. “I remember our very first meeting with them. We had a zoom conference with Miracle Playground in Louisville, the equipment arrived on Tuesday and the playground was finished on a Friday.”
Brown said the Fischer family donated $150,000 for the project.
“It provides a safe, welcoming and inclusive space where children and families throughout the community can gather, play, and create lasting memories for generations to come,” Brown said. “The playground represents the spirit of community, volunteerism, and investment in our families.”
It was in 2022 that the Villa Hill Civic Club experienced a devastating fire that destroyed its main building. The fire, which occurred in the early hours, caused extensive damage, leading to the loss of the community facility.
“We rallied together back then,” Brown recalled, “We raised money and built it back bit-by-bit, because we didn’t want to go into debt. And we didn’t.”
The new facility, completed in 2024, was designed to meet modern standards while preserving the club’s historic charm.
The Villa Hills Civic Club sits on 27 acres with a three-acre lake. The playground consists of five separate pieces of enjoyable fun – including a Slide, “Monkey Bars”, A Rotunda and even a Tower.
Both Greg and Amy Fischer declined a photo, but Amy’s words will remain on a soon-to-be placed plaque in the playground area. It reads:
“Today we celebrate more than just a new playground — we celebrate a place where laughter will echo, friendships will grow, and families will create memories together for years to come. The Villa Hills Civic Club playground is an investment in our community’s children and is reminder of the importance of spaces that bring people together in joy, connection, and play.
A special thank you to the Chase and Cole Foundation for helping make this playground possible and for investing in the children and families of our community. Your generosity will create joy and lasting memories for generations to come.”
The Civic Club was formed in 1961 as an organization crated to serve the community, as it continues to do so today. Today the club has 773 family members at a cost of $50 per-year.
The club is open seven-days-a-week for social activities, graduations, parities and weddings.
And always for remembrance.
