The revamped Drees Overlook at Devou Park, which offers unimpeded views of the Cincinnati skyline, hopes to honor the legacy of homebuilder Ralph Drees while improving park visitors’ experience.
In 2022, Barbara Drees-Jones, Ralph’s daughter, pitched the family’s intention to reinvigorate the park’s overlook pavilion to the Covington Commission. After a year of construction, the new Drees Overlook was ready to be unveiled.
On Wednesday, members of the Drees family, representatives from the City of Covington, and political representatives from around Kenton County gathered at Drees Overlook for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening.
Ralph Drees first approached the Covington Commission in 2003 with the idea of building and donating an event center to Devou Park to commemorate Drees Homes’ 75th anniversary.
“Ralph believed in giving back to the community and was particularly dedicated toward making Northern Kentucky a better place to live,” Ralph’s son and Drees Homes CEO David Drees said. “This gift does that and it is only made possible because of his generosity and the foundational values he instilled in our family and our company.”
One year later, Drees Pavilion opened. It’s since served as a popular venue for weddings, company outings and public events. Drees Pavilion has generated nearly $7 million worth of proceeds that have been invested back into Devou Park, according to a press release from Drees.
Ralph Drees passed away in 2021 at age 86. Throughout his life, he was heavily involved in the Northern Kentucky community, serving in several high-profile public positions. Most notably, he served as the Kenton County Judge/Executive from 2004 to 2010 and the Kenton County Airport Board Chair from 1990 to 2003. On the business side, he served as CEO of Drees Homes from 1965 to 2000, when he passed on the title to his son David. Drees Homes is the second largest homebuilder in Northern Kentucky.
“We wanted to do something special for our Dad,” Drees-Jones said. “We wanted to commemorate his life and all that he stood for, so we decided to build something because that’s what we do at Drees.”
The revamped Drees Overlook cost around $1 million to complete. It features a new seat wall, steps, a picnic area with several rest spots and a view of Cincinnati’s skyline. In addition, the observation patio features swings, improved sightlines and sidewalks and permanent signage.
During the ceremony, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer highlighted Drees’s longstanding collaborative relationship with the city. He touted the Drees Overlook as one of Covington’s great tourist attractions.
“This project, the Drees Pavilion, and now the Drees Overlook, are the crown jewels of the Drees family contribution, and one that we are very, very grateful for,” Meyer said. “Devou Park has never looked so good or served our community so well thanks to the ongoing contribution from the Drees Pavilion and the engaged leadership of Barbara Drees-Jones.”
