Mini Nugget Countdown: #2 , Ultimate Tailgate, Night Out Against Crime

In Covington we're blessed with some well known gems that make our City a wonderful place: Southern Hotel, Columbia Street Landing, Bogue Falaya Park, concerts at the Trailhead and a plethora of great restaurants. However, there are some smaller gems that are perhaps less well known. Hence, my "countdown" of five small, hidden gems. One may know some, but I posit few, if any, know all. I call these gems "Mini-Nuggets." #s 5, 4 and 3 were in a recent e-blast. Here is #2.

Mini-Nugget # 2

Nose Park

Located on the eastern bank of the Tchefuncte River and at the corner of Jahncke Avenue and East 1st Avenue is the sweetest of small, neighborhood parks. Along with typical playground equipment, Nose Park also has an asphalt oval track perfect for youngsters learning to trike, bike or roller skate … and it's a nice place for Seniors with mobility challenges to walk. With a grant from the LSU Ag Center, Covington's Public Works Department recently installed a bicycle work station with air pump.

Asphalt oval pathway encircles a grassy meadow.

Former Mayor Keith Villere pictured with the nose. Mayor Villere is the one on the right.

Covered pavilion on the river

Small boardwalk riverside

Click here for The Story of the Nose

Sunset at the Landing

Great line-up for this Fall's Rockin' the Rails. Remember, first Fall show is always at Peter Atkins Park.

Kayak Community: It's your turn. Bogue Falaya River Sweep is a fun and effective way to keep our rivers clean … but don't tell the kids they're working.

Block Party - September 27th

Night Out Against Crime

October 1st at the Trailhead

Daughters of the American Revolution

Flooded Streets

Over the weekend a resident shared the concern that when her street floods (which it does in rain events like Francine) she is concerned that, in case of an emergency, she would not be able to get out. All residents should know that in an emergency situation, our PD and FD are equipped to get to your home and get you safely out and about (water rescue skiff and high water transport).

Zumba at the Food Bank

Elvis was in the House

September's Zumba with the Mayor took place at the Northshore Food Bank's facility. Elvis was on hand to lead a couple of songs. Unfortunately, he was gone when I arrived. I always just miss him.

Great group of instructors, great work out, great cause !

Covington's Tree Canopy

I like trees. I love our City's quaint side streets, the old homes and our beautiful tree canopy ... our beautiful, aging tree canopy. Many of our older trees, particularly water oaks, are becoming dangerous. Unlike live oaks, the life expectancy of a water oak is 50 - 70 years. With a shallow root system, their susceptibility to black heart disease (i.e. hollow and black on the inside) and their top-heaviness, water oaks have been falling all about town on a regular basis. Two years ago on a sunny, cloudless day, one toppled and crushed a car.

The fallen tree pictured exhibits a shallow root system, was top-heavy and hollow in the trunk. Like others, its fall was not weather related.

Hazardous trees on city property are removed by the city. Hazardous trees on private property are removed by the property owner. If, after notification by Code Enforcement, the owner fails to remove the tree the city will have it removed and place a lien on the property.

We have about 1,000 live oaks on City property. More important than planting more live oaks may very well be preserving (i.e. pruning, fertilizing and aerating) the century plus old trees we have inherited. The City spends about $75,000 per year preserving our live oaks.

Prior to Fire #2 (1906)

Taken from Rutland Street (think Heritage Bank), looking north up Columbia Street towards Boston, this picture was taken prior to the fire of 1906. Note just above the Model T an Atlantic and Pacific sign ... later to become A & P Groceries.

Two story brick building on right was a two-story Smith Hardware (the original site dating back to 1850 founded by John Edis Smith). The building was damaged in the fire ... with the first floor being salvaged. I recall Smith Hardware still operating there in the 1970s. Today, Shoeffle´'s interior walls reveal the original bricks.

Side note: I'm fond of reminding folks that downtown streets were laid out nearly one hundred years before the invention of the automobile. This photo boasts more wagons on the street than cars.

Side note 2: The wagon that sits today on the front porch of H.J. Smith's Son General Merchandise is the same model and manufacturer the store offered back in the day.

After the Fire

Taken from Columbia Street, looking towards Rutland and N. New Hampshire.

John Edis Smith home in the background, facing Rutland.

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.

Rooted in History, Focused on the Future