Town hears Covington Park schematic; PARTF grant covers $500,000 of $1.2'1.3M Phase 1 plan

Withers Ravenel designers presented the schematic design for phase one of the Covington (Memorial) Park revitalization and outlined a funding plan that relies on a PARTF (Parks and Recreation Trust Fund) award and a town match. John Courtney, the firm's parks director, and landscape designer Jen Dolan described an expanded, accessible playground area, embankment play, and an American-Ninja-style challenge course intended to engage a range of ages and abilities.

"We ultimately ended up with programming that includes an improved and enlarged playground," the firm's designer said, showing conceptual equipment options and noting swings would be retained. Courtney summarized the cost breakdown: the playground and surfacing around $425,000; the challenge course about $155,000; site work and contingencies bring the estimated phase-one total to roughly $1.2'1.3 million. The state PARTF award accounts for $500,000 of the cost; the town's match is about $771,000. Designers said permit and bid timelines put construction starting next spring with a possible community opening the following summer.

Council members asked about procurement (owner-procured playground equipment to save markup), the PARTF obligations (funds are earmarked for phase one and must be used for specified items), and whether items such as trash receptacles, lighting and soft costs were included; Withers Ravenel said more detailed line items would appear in later design phases. The council agreed to continue the design process and return for formal approvals before construction bidding.