Villa Hills Parks, Ball Fields & Community Events
Villa Hills parks lean toward ball fields and small neighborhood play areas, with bigger trail parks a short drive away. Field use runs through the Villa Hills Longhorns, and the city’s recreation committee and volunteers put on events through the year.
Checked against official sources October 7, 2026.
City parks and fields
- Franzen Fields: 729 Rogers Rd, behind the Civic Club property and near City Hall. Baseball fields, a shelter, lake views and an undeveloped hiking trail of about 0.5 mile. Watch your step on the trail; there are roots, rocks and other trip hazards.
- City-Civic Park: on Rogers Road behind the Civic Club, next to Franzen Fields. A small play area with playground equipment and swings.
- Harry Rigney Park: entered from Rollingwood Drive and Hacienda Court. A small play field with swings and climbing bars. Street parking only, so don’t block fire lanes, cul-de-sacs or driveways.
- Villa Madonna Complex: 2500 Amsterdam Road. Private property owned by Villa Madonna Academy, home to Tom Braun Fields (ball fields) and Cunningham Fields (soccer). It has a picnic pavilion/shelter with public restrooms, which are closed in winter. The city notes it’s a popular meet-up spot for walking and running groups.
Bigger parks nearby
- Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park (City of Crescent Springs): 800 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs. Basketball courts, a soccer field (teams only), a large play area with swings, slides and climbing, 3 shelters for rent and a 1.5-mile paved and mulch walking path.
- Devou Park: 1201 Park Rd, Covington, about 3.5 miles from Villa Hills. Over 700 acres with overlooks, a golf course, 8 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails, events and a wedding venue. Start at the Welcome Center.
Field permits, rentals and field status
The city partners with the Villa Hills Longhorns to manage field rentals, game schedules and field status at Franzen Fields and the Villa Madonna fields. A permit is required to use the fields; contact the Longhorns to get one. Field status updates are posted on the Longhorns’ Twitter account.
The city’s website doesn’t list a separate shelter reservation process for its own parks. For shelter rentals, Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park in Crescent Springs has 3 rentable shelters. For a public gathering on a street, park or other public place, such as a block party, you’ll need a Special Event Permit from the police department (details below).
Youth and adult sports
Organized baseball, softball, soccer and football are offered for kids from age 5 through high school, plus adult softball. The leagues run their own sign-ups. The Longhorns’ Instructional Baseball League plays all practices and games locally at Villa Madonna and Franzen Fields, with games on Saturday mornings and early afternoons. The city noted its instructional baseball sign-up was closed at the time of posting.
Community events
- Villa Hills Safety Night: a police-run summer evening, usually around June, at Tom Braun Park on Amsterdam Rd with food trucks, animal rescues, free bike helmets, a bike rodeo, the SWAT robot and helicopter landings by Air Care and the National Guard, weather permitting. Watch the police Facebook page for the date.
- Halloween: trick-or-treat was set for October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Fall 2025 newsletter.
- Christmas in the Park: hosted jointly by Crescent Springs and Villa Hills at Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park (December 6, 2025, 5:30–8:30 pm, per the Fall 2025 newsletter).
- Shop with a Cop/Firefighter fundraiser: the 2025 Sip N’ Support bourbon tasting with the Villa Hills Civic Club raised money for local children’s holidays.
- Christmas tree drop-off for mulching after the holidays, at a location the city announces each year.
Planning your own event
Festivals, shows, races, block parties and other gatherings on a street, park or public place need a Special Event Permit. Submit a complete application to the Office of the Chief of Police, 719 Rogers Road, at least 60 days before the event. The mayor approves or denies it within 7 days of staff recommendations.
- Block Party Permit: $25.00 (one block or part of a street, no alcohol on public property, under 200 people)
- Low Impact: $25.00 (picnics, small gatherings, no alcohol, under 1,000 people)
- Medium Impact: $50.00 (dances, rallies, flea markets, 1,000–2,500 people)
- High Impact: $75.00 (sporting events, races, carnivals, 2,500–5,000 people)
- Special Impact: $100.00 (concerts, fireworks, any event with alcohol, or 5,000+ people)
- Events needing police, fire or cleanup services may be billed for those costs.
Recreation committee and volunteer groups
Council’s Parks and Rec Committee meets on the 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at 719 Rogers Rd (as published), chaired by council member Patrick Kennedy. The calendar page also lists a Beautification and Events committee on the 1st Monday at 6:30 p.m. at 720 Rogers Rd. Committees include resident volunteers.
The Villa Hills Garden Club, founded in 1996, maintains landscaped areas and runs the Commemorative Garden, Yard of the Year awards, plant sales and garden tours. It usually meets the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the police department building, and new members are welcome.
On the map
- 1Franzen Fields & City-Civic Park729 Rogers Rd
- 2Harry Rigney ParkRollingwood Dr & Hacienda Ct
- 3Villa Madonna Complex (Tom Braun Fields)2500 Amsterdam Rd
- Carpenter’s Trace
Frequently asked questions
›What parks are in Villa Hills, KY?
The city lists Franzen Fields and City-Civic Park on Rogers Road, Harry Rigney Park off Rollingwood Drive and Hacienda Court, and the Villa Madonna Complex fields on Amsterdam Road, which are on private Villa Madonna Academy property.
Source ↗›Where is Franzen Fields in Villa Hills?
Franzen Fields is at 729 Rogers Rd, behind the Civic Club property. It has baseball fields, a shelter, lake views and an undeveloped trail of about half a mile.
Source ↗›Is there a walking trail in Villa Hills?
Franzen Fields has an undeveloped hiking trail of about 0.5 mile, with roots, rocks and other trip hazards. For a longer paved loop, Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park in Crescent Springs has a 1.5-mile path.
Source ↗›Where can kids play in Villa Hills?
City-Civic Park next to Franzen Fields has playground equipment and swings, and Harry Rigney Park has a small play field with swings and climbing bars.
Source ↗›Where do I park for Harry Rigney Park?
There’s street parking only, accessed from Rollingwood Drive and Hacienda Court. Don’t park in fire lanes or cul-de-sacs or block driveways.
Source ↗›Does the Villa Madonna Complex have restrooms?
Yes. The pavilion at 2500 Amsterdam Road has public restrooms, which are closed during the winter. The complex is private property owned by Villa Madonna Academy.
Source ↗›How do I reserve a ball field in Villa Hills?
A permit is required for field use. The city partners with the Villa Hills Longhorns, who handle field permits and rentals, so contact the Longhorns.
Source ↗›How do I check if the Villa Hills ball fields are open?
Field status for Franzen and the Villa Madonna fields is posted on the Villa Hills Longhorns’ Twitter account.
Source ↗›What youth sports are available in Villa Hills?
Baseball, softball, soccer and football are offered for kids from age 5 through high school, and adult softball is available. Contact the leagues, such as the Longhorns, Tom Braun Girls Softball or Crosstown Baseball/Softball, directly.
Source ↗›When is Villa Hills Safety Night?
Safety Night is held each summer, usually around June, at Tom Braun Park on Amsterdam Rd. Check the police department’s Facebook page for the date.
Source ↗›Do I need a permit for a block party in Villa Hills?
Yes. Events on a street, park or public place need a Special Event Permit. A block party permit costs $25.00 and the application is due to the police chief’s office at least 60 days before the event.
Source ↗›When does the Villa Hills Garden Club meet?
Usually the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at the police department building. New members are welcome.
Source ↗