Riggs Memorial Park in Fort Thomas does not have the historical significance of Tower Park, neither do the practice fields of Rossford Park nor do the dog-friendly spaces of Highland Hills Park, but Riggs is well-used and well-appreciated, according to neighbors who live nearby.
The small park, located near the corner of West Southgate Ave. and Memorial Parkway, could use a little love, said Jennifer Paolucci who lives across the street on Rosemont Avenue.
“I’m not asking for much. I know it’s not a destination park. It’s a pocket park, but there are three streets there…I’ve been asking for a long time for a basketball court there. My kids are about to age out of using the park, but it’s a great little spot. Everybody in the neighborhood loves it, and it’s a heavily used park.”
Perfect timing
Paolucci said now is the perfect time to give the park the attention it deserves. Earlier this year, Sanitation District 1 (SD1) plowed straight through the park for its major storm and sanitary sewer replacement project along Memorial Parkway.
“It looked like a bomb went off over there,” she said. The sidewalk had been torn up, playground equipment pulled out, trees knocked down, and there was a large gaping hole in front of her house.
The $2 million SD1 project requires upsizing of both the sewer and sanitary pipes throughout the area. The project started last fall near the intersection of Clover Ridge Ave. and Memorial Parkway and went through to the intersection of Rosemont and Strathmore avenues. It will continue on along Strathmore to Holly Lane.
In June, an SD1 spokesperson said work had begun to restore the park. Yet, before too much is put back in place, Paolucci and her neighbors said they would like the city to consider making a few simple improvements.
“It’s not like it needs a whole overhaul, the park just needs some new stuff,” she said. “We’re not talking about putting in a shelter or restrooms.”
Perhaps a refresh
Since her children are older, Paolucci asked her neighbors with smaller children what they’d like to see in the park. “They wholeheartedly would like to see something done there, whether it be a climbing wall or just new playground equipment.”
One person did mention a portable toilet would be a nice addition since the park is a popular spot for birthday parties and other small celebrations, she added.
When Paolucci brought her concerns to a council meeting in May, officials agreed it was good timing for the park, and promised to add the issue to the agenda for the city’s recreation committee.
Paolucci said she hopes the city will consider ordering some new playground equipment soon. “They know what’s there, and they could see what would work in the space. What is there now is an old climbing set, a big space with a big plastic caterpillar or turtle to climb on… baby swings, bigger swings and that’s literally it besides the shelter,” she said.
“I live across from the park, and I see it used so much. It’s a great little spot, a great little park. I know everything is a monetary investment but with a small investment you could make it so much better.”