COVINGTON, Ky. — A disc golf course in Covington has now suffered thousands of dollars in damage from being vandalized for the second time since October.

What You Need To Know

  •  The disc golf course in Devou Park has been vandalized for the second time since October

  •  The Devou Good Foundation estimates it will take $7,000 to replace the damaged baskets

  •  The foundation is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible

  • Foundation President Matt Butler thinks the park should stay open later to cut down on vandalism

Now, the future of the course has been called into question as well as the safety of the Devou Park, where the course is located.

The disc golf baskets were in a little better shape Friday than how they were found Wednesday morning, but not by much. Overnight on Jan. 10, the majority of the disc golf baskets were crushed, bent or ripped out of the ground, according to the Devou Good Foundation.

Foundation President Matt Butler said he has no idea why someone would vandalize the course again.

“I don’t know. But they do seem very committed,” Butler said. “It looks like someone put a lot of effort into trying to damage them. And they went to almost every one of them.”

The Devou Good Foundation partners with nonprofits. It has worked on several projects in Devou Park, focusing on the park’s overall wellbeing. 

Just a few days after the disc golf course opened in October, it was vandalized for the first time. City leaders said the vandalism amounted to approximately $6,000 in damage. The city of Covington, along with community partners, helped get it fixed up. Boone County, for example, donated new baskets to the park.

“This time around, it’s kind of disheartening that all of that work has been damaged yet again,” Butler said.

The latest round of vandalism left 14 baskets damaged beyond repair and in need of replacement. The estimated cost of replacement is approximately $7,000, according to the Devou Good Foundation.

The foundation has offered a $1,000 dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible. An anonymous donor has matched that offer, bringing the total reward to $2,000.

Butler said he views the vandalism as an attack on the community.

“We want to make sure that people feel the park is safe, which it is, and they come out and enjoy the park. And this just gives the park kind of a little bad reputation,” he said. “The more eyes that are on the park, the better. And that’s why we’re advocating to, one, hopefully find these folks so they don’t do it again. And two, to have the park open during the evening, so that there are eyes on the park.”

Currently, Devou Park is not open after dusk.

Butler said he’s seen the disc golf course draw hundreds of people to the park. He even bought his kids a set of discs.

“I’ve thrown a few. Not very good at it,” he said, laughing.

He said he hopes to be able to get some more practice, and that the course will be able to remain a community asset into the future.

Covington Police are investigating. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Covington Police Non-Emergency Line at 859-292-2222.

They can also contact Det. Gregg Andrews at 859-292-2271, or Cincinnati Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

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