Newport’s General James Taylor Park plans $17M upgrade

Preliminary design work has begun on General James Taylor Park in Newport, which could see $17 million worth of improvements starting this summer.

Roughly half a mile of land along the river could see new amenities from walking paths, picnic areas, a dog park, a pavilion and tennis and pickleball courts, among other things. This effort has been a cooperative venture between the city and Corporex, seeking $11 million into the state’s legislative budget for the project.

The land is city-owned, and Newport has to approve any plans.

Corporex Chairman Bill Butler coined the concept as “Smale Kentucky,” referring to the riverbank improvements on the Ohio Riverside.

“It will be useful to the people; it will be first class,” Butler said. “We have the opportunity to upgrade the whole perception of our Northern Kentucky community. We’re doing that in many ways, but this would make a difference in that regard.” 

Newport City Manager Tom Fromme said whatever the official plan ends up being, it will significantly impact the whole city, and the area will become much more usable and enjoyable.

“We have a nondescript face to the city,” Fromme said. “If you’re looking at Newport from Cincinnati, that’s really kind of nondescript, and so I think that we have the opportunity here to create a positive, impressive front door of the city as well as a focal point that you’ll naturally be drawn to if you’re looking at it from across the river.” 

The city and Corporex have met with all 14 legislators representing the Northern Kentucky caucus, according to Butler, and he said they were enthusiastic about the project.

“I have had a conversation with the governor, and he expressed his support, so I’m confident there, and so we hope to get this into the budget in the near future,” Butler said.

Fromme said he was optimistic that the project would receive funding from the state.

“I think that they realize the importance Newport has in retail, entertainment and offices, I mean, really for the whole state,” he said. “There’s a lot of things going on in Newport and Covington, so I am optimistic that they’ll realize the importance of this project and what it means to Kentucky as a whole.”

Butler said they are currently in the process of working out local contributions as well.

“The city of Newport is willing to put in a significant amount of cash, Corporex is willing to make some contribution and will seek other private contributions,” Butler said. “We would come up with about 40% matching local contribution if we’re going to do all those things.”

Fromme said the city contribution hasn’t been determined yet, but they realize that there will have to be some sort of local match anytime they receive state funding.

The property is not on private land of Corporex or Ovation, Butler said, but the improvements are in keeping with the $1.3 billion they are spending on Ovation.

If the project gets money from the state budget, which Butler said would be sometime in March, they can begin to make progress between June and August. He said that the project is estimated to be completed in a year from start to finish.

The improvement project also includes moving the iconic World Peace Bell from York Street to the park. The World Peace Bell has remained in its original location since January 2000. Fromme said the bell would be seen from Cincinnati if it was moved and generally get more eyes on it.

“If you’re at the Reds stadium, you can see parts of the riverfront from the stadium,” he said. “When they have nationally televised games, you see the Newport Riverfront. I think the Peace Bell would become more exposed.”

Fromme said the park renovation goes back to the city’s master plan from 2002, and it’s not something that was drawn up “Johnny-come-lately.”

“It’s going to be a major step forward for the entire region—not just for Newport, and especially for the residents of Newport,” Fromme said.