On June 26, 2025, Horticulture Extension Agent Brandon George and Library Services Programmer Sam Greenwell held the first programming event by the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service at the new Kenton County library branch in the Latonia neighborhood of Covington, KY. The program on lawn alternatives and no-mow lawns was delivered to an audience of 13 attendees, likely from the Latonia neighborhood. Based on observations, 12 of the 13 attendees had not previously attended a horticulture program.

The new Latonia branch opened in early June and will hopefully be the start of a partnership with the Cooperative Extension Service to attract new audiences who have not been previously reached. There are two more programs scheduled over the next two months to build a consistent presence in Latonia, where previously, horticulture programs have not been delivered.

According to the US Census Bureau, 51.5 percent of those who live in Covington, KY, own their homes (Census.gov). The lawn alternatives program seeks to help homeowners take advantage of the benefits of gardening in a way that offers cost and labor savings through replacing lawn with plants that require less maintenance. For small home lot sizes, which are the norm in urban areas like Latonia, these changes will require less maintenance over time, improve water quality, and have benefits to wildlife.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/covingtoncitykentucky/PST045223