Everyone needs to have a go to place where they can quickly stretch their legs and get a little fresh air. For me that place is Devou Park, which lies just a few miles from our home. Its relatively new, paved path makes for easily reachable all-weather escapes.
Devou park was part of my childhood and adolescence. One of my oldest memories is of a picnic there in the early 1960s with my grandmother, grandfather, and an uncle who was home from the military. I remember taking the bus to Western Avenue and then the long climb up the broad stairs that led to the picnic grounds near the Memorial Building and Overlook. With the decline in people walking to access the park, those stairs fell into disrepair and have been overgrown with plant life. In my teen years the park was a focal point of weekend activities – cruising, socializing, and sled riding.
It is ironic that it has taken on a significant role in my later years as I not only golf there, but more often walk a 5 mile route for cardio. It has a lot to offer – beautiful trees, rolling terrain, vistas, and interaction with many like minded folks. While I enjoy this park and its asphalt path immensely, and use it often, I was not tempted to feature it in a Footpaths article until I found some historical photographs and images of the park, most in the form of antique postcards, and thought that it would be fun to integrate them into the park’s story.
Devou Park started in 1910 when the Devou family gifted their 500 acre estate to the city of Covington, Kentucky with a provision that allowed them to remain in the homestead, which they did until a fire in 1943. Due to a lack of urban public greenspace, the park was immediately popular and Covington had to hire a policeman to patrol the park on horseback. In 1922 a nine hole golf course was constructed, and in the mid-1920s five tennis courts were added. Eventually a clubhouse was built to serve both the golf course and tennis club. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) left an indelible mark on the park with the construction of several structures. After WWII a Memorial Building was constructed near the overlook that offered views of Cincinnati and the Ohio River. The size and functionality of the structure was limited and it was replaced in the early 2000s with the construction of the nearby Drees Pavilion. In the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, park improvements were limited by city budget constraints. In the early 1990s the golf course was expanded to 18 holes which greatly increased its play and the visibility of the park in the public’s eye. But it was the foresight of the Drees family that has allowed the past two decades to become the rebirth of Devou Park.
My route on the asphalt path is generally the same, with the starting point (#1 on the second map below) being along Park Drive, across from the golf course clubhouse. The first map below depicts the entire, now 700 acre park. The second is a closeup to better depict the walking path, which is marked with white dots on the maps.
From the early parts of the path I can look across the road for views onto several holes of the course.
On our walk the first old photo locale that we came upon was above Golfview Drive, which is titled “Devou Park Driveway” in the postcard photo. We could not get the exact position needed for the photo, from the high ground where the asphalt path now runs, as mature trees obstruct the view. We stood on the side of Golfview Drive at the bend in the road, marked with a #2 on the map. To the left in the old photo, behind the tree, one can just make out a road, which wove through a valley to cross the fairways of the first and ninth holes. How crazy is that? After the golf course, it passed through an undeveloped section of the park on a route that would eventually lead to the riverside community of Ludlow, Kentucky. The name of the road is not clear, with some referring to it as Montague and others calling it Devou Park Road. I will refer to it as Montague as it passes at the base of the hill where the Montague Homestead and family cemetery were known to be, on the site of the current golf clubhouse and former tennis courts. The road can be seen in the title image just off the golfer’s left hip. That section of the road was removed when the golf course was redesigned in the early 1990s and does not appear on the current map. A remnant of that section of Montague Road is now used for parking for a historic stone shelterhouse and the disc golf course. The gravel path that heads up the hill in the distance on the postcard is no longer there but if one looks closely you can still see where it laid.
The next recaptured view, also from a historic postcard, is marked with a #3 on the map and is looking back down this same stretch of road. The current asphalt path is positioned on the terrace above the road and mature trees now grow between the two. The historic Montague Road is to the far right. The postcard photo was taken from the gravel path that was previously mentioned and is no longer there.
To the right in the above photo is a corner of a stone shelter that was built by the WPA in the 1930s. It is one of the iconic structures of the park. It sits below the road and has a broad set of stairs that lead down to it. The decorative iron fence is probably a safety addition as I do not recall its presence in my younger years.
Once again, facing north on the roadway, the postcard photo shows where Montague Road arose on the left and started its descent toward the first fairway. In the modern photo, taken at #4 on the map, the origin of the Montague remnant is just beyond the stop sign. The section of the hill on the right has been reduced. The dirt was probably used for roadway construction fill. A picnic grove with a more modern shelter, a restroom, and playground were placed on the more level lawn.
The ensuing section of asphalt path gives one a view onto the second hole of the golf course, and a couple of stone benches that were constructed by the WPA in the 1930s. As my father’s mobility declined and he could no longer golf, I would take him to the second bench where he could enjoy watching others golf.
One of the famous landmarks in Devou is this four-way intersection, where our photo was taken at #5 on the map. It appears that the historic photo was taken from the high ground that was on the section of hill that has been since removed.
By heading down the road to the right we were able to recreate this image of what was referred to as Horse Shoe Bend in this postcard photo. We were standing at the position marked with a #6 on the map. The building above the road was the Devou homestead. The original building is now part of the much larger Behringer-Crawford Museum that is seen in the modern photo.
Going around the bend, and with further descent, one comes upon Prisoner’s Lake. The lake began in 1916 as a quarry which was mined by prisoners from the city jail, and would supply crushed limestone for city streets. In 1920 the quarry ceased function and was converted into the lake. This photo was from 1930. Due to plant overgrowth we could not get to the exact angle of the historic photo as we stood at #7 on the map.
Backtracking and heading east on Bandshell Boulevard a walker comes upon another historic structure, the Devou Park Bandshell, for which the road is named. The bandshell was built in 1938 by the WPA and 40,000 people attended its inaugural concert in June 1939. Jimmy Durante perform there in August of the same year. Our family continues to enjoy the thrice summer concerts by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra offered in this natural amphitheater. Our photo was taken at position #8 on the map.
Continuing east we reached Rotary Grove. This photo was labeled “Bridal Path and Rotary Grove”. Rotary Grove started in 1932 when 8 trees were planted, one in commemoration of George Washington’s 200th birthday, and 7 for deceased Rotary members. Our photo was taken from the site marked with a #9 on the map. I believe that the large tree in the old photo is still there, as seen in the third photo below, located somewhat aback from the ridge. If you look at the branching of this large Red Oak (circled), it matches that of the historic photograph. The branching looks lower down on the old photo because the photographer is below grade and did not capture the lower part of the trunk.
The sign in the historic photo can just be made out in the lower right of the recent photo.
As a tree person, Rotary Grove is often a focus of my attention. They have a tradition of planting trees in memory of long-serving members and have a nice assortment of mature trees.
From Rotary Grove we head onto the part of the path that runs along Park Lane. To the left of the roadway is the residential neighborhood of Kenton Hills. This photo was taken from position #10 on the map.
The path divides halfway along this route, with the lower arm skirting a wooded hillside and eventually passing through a picnic shelter and new playground area at number 11 on the map.
Soon the visitor glimpses the Drees Pavilion, a highly successful event venue with an outstanding view of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati. Proceeds from the venue fund the continued improvements being made to the park. The venue was the brainchild of businessman and civic leader Ralph Drees and his family, who celebrated the 75th anniversary of their construction business, Drees Homes, by building the space and donating it to the city of Covington. To the right you can see a part of the Cincinnati skyline.
Walking past the flag pole one is treated to a view of Covington and Cincinnati that has been enjoyed by generations.
This is in the location of the picnic that I recalled with my grandparents. The historic image below is from 1932 and is from an area on the hillside now overgrown with trees so we could not recreate the exact sight line. The first bridge seen is the C&O train bridge.
In the early 1960s the Brent Spence I-75 bridge, noted on the left in the photo below, opened, and, as so frequently happens, much of the old, nearby residential Covington neighborhood was lost to development. There are probably not but a handful of the original buildings remaining. The now paired C&O and Clay Wade Bailey bridges are to the right of the Brent Spence. We were standing in the area of #12 on the map when we captured this series of images.
Another bridge that can be noted from the overlook, especially with a telephoto lens, was the Roebling Suspension Bridge. Built in the 1860s, it was the first bridge to connect Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky and was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City that would open in 1883.
Looking a little further south from the overlook one can take in views of Covington, Kentucky, an eclectic and diverse community just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. It is known for its architecturally rich churches, including Mother of God Catholic Church noted in the photo below.
Since this is a hiking and nature blog after all, I will mention one thing that I enjoy on my outings to Devou – the diversity and grandeur of the trees. Walking the pavement I identified 61 species of trees with only deviating a step or two from the path.
While I wouldn’t say Devou Park is unique amongst urban parks, I would emphasize that it is thriving. Through good city leadership, community engagement and voluntarism, the outstanding philanthropy of the Drees family, and a commitment to urban forestry, it has shown continued improvement over the last 3 decades. Through the expansion of the golf course, and the addition of the walking trail, disc golf, playgrounds, shelters, and mountain bike trails, the park appeals to an ever broadening cross section of the Northern Kentucky community. I was excited just last weekend when I noted the start of construction on an additional picnic shelter overlooking Prisoner’s Lake. Devou Park is a true urban oasis. If you live in the Cincinnati region I will gladly share my walking path with you.
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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns, with the exception of the photo of me in Rotary Grove which was taken by my cardio partner Jerry Hammond. The historic photos were found on the Northern Kentucky Views website.
Overview:
Location – 1202 Park Drive, Covington, KY 41011
Parking – there are many asphalted pulls offs to park along the route.
Facilities – Seasonal at the picnic areas. Portolets in the winter. The golf course clubhouse is open most days.
Trail Conditions – The walking trail is asphalt. It totals 4 – 6 miles depending on whether some of the side routes are taken.
Print Map Link – https://www.exploredevoupark.org/
Benches – many noted.
Picnic Tables – many. The shelters may require a reservation.
Kids – this trail would be great for kids of all ages. It would also be good for strollers and kids on bikes.
Dogs – welcomed on a leash.
Suggested Paired Hikes – the extensive mountain bike trail system is open to hikers as well. Given Devou’s hilly terrain these would be considered moderate to strenuous on foot.
Links:
Yes indeed. It brought up many memories as I wrote it.