COVINGTON, Ky. – After nearly three decades of public service and four years of transformative leadership in Covington, J. Kyle Snyder, Executive Director of the Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority (CMVPA), announced he will retire at the end of August 2026.
Since joining the City in 2022, Snyder has played a pivotal role in reshaping how parking is managed and experienced in Covington. His work has helped move parking from a background necessity to a thoughtful, community-focused service that supports economic development, neighborhood vitality, and quality of life.
Before his time in Covington, Snyder served as a Project Manager at Hamilton County Planning – Community Development and spent 18 years as a Geospatial Data Specialist with Planning and Development Services of Kenton County. In a career spanning 29 years of public service, he has worked with nearly every facet of local and regional government— experience that helped guide thoughtful, data-driven decisions for Covington’s parking system.
Under Snyder’s leadership, the City invested in major infrastructure improvements, including long-term maintenance at the RiverCenter parking garage, a key piece of Covington’s downtown infrastructure. Projects there included modernizing all four elevators, improving the plumbing (fire sprinkler and drain system), and starting to rehabilitate concrete throughout the facility. These behind-the-scenes projects may not always be visible, but they play a critical role in how people experience the city every day.
Snyder also championed initiatives designed to support Covington’s small businesses and entertainment districts. One such effort is a new parking program in Mainstrasse Village that will provide affordable off-street parking for restaurant, bar, and entertainment staff. “It allows staff to get parking at a pretty cheap rate that gets them off the street,” Snyder explained. “That creates more turnover on the street for business patrons.”
Throughout his career, Snyder emphasized that parking is often the first interaction someone has with a city. “Parking is your first and last impression of a place,” he said. “If you come in and your first experience is a garage that’s not clean, or well lit, or does not feel safe, or you get towed on your first visit—anything that creates a pain point—that’s not a good look for the city.” His focus has been on making Covington welcoming and accessible for residents, visitors, and potential investors.
That approach earned high praise from the CMVPA Board. Naashom Marx, Chair of the CMVPA Board, highlighted both Snyder’s impact and his leadership style. “Kyle has done an outstanding job developing Covington’s parking program in a way that truly serves the community,” Marx said. “He is incredibly knowledgeable and always takes the time to educate residents and businesses with patience and grace. His work has raised the bar for what a city parking program can be.”
As retirement approaches, Snyder is looking forward to a slower pace. “Not waking up so early,” he joked, adding that he hopes to spend more time hiking, sailing, and traveling.
When asked how he would like to be remembered, Snyder didn’t hesitate. “Productive,” he said. “We changed the game on how parking is thought about in the city.”
The City of Covington thanks Snyder for his dedicated service and leadership. His work has left a mark on the city’s infrastructure and on the everyday experiences of those who live, work, and visit here.