The orange traffic cones lining Boston Street notwithstanding, downtown Covington has a holiday look and feel to it. The main drag is draped with decorations hanging from light poles and shoppers are visiting quaint city shops in search of that perfect gift. But there might be one thing keeping Covington from becoming south Louisiana’s version of Bedford Falls, the fictional town in Frank Capra’s 1946 classic holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

City Council member Larry Rolling said he believes Covington needs a city Christmas tree at an auspicious downtown location, and he plans to start drive to establish such a tradition next year.

“We’re a very traditional city, but this is a little piece that is missing,” Rolling said.

Rolling’s idea is to have local businesses and non-profits contribute to a fund to erect a tree in the downtown area. He said one possible location is the Covington Trailhead at the intersection of New Hampshire and East Lockwood streets. It features a campanile, bandstand and amphitheater and a visitor center. But Rolling said the trailhead is “a little off the beaten path.”

He said a better location may be the front courtyard of the former parish courthouse at the corner of Boston and New Hampshire street. The corner is adorned with giant oak trees that could be incorporated into the holiday display, he said.

Workers were building a new walkway at that busy corner Friday, and other sections of downtown are under construction as well. So city officials are targeting next year for the enhanced holiday display.

Downtown Covington is in the midst of a major facelift funded through a combination of state and local money. The $551,000 Boston Street beautification project involves the installation of dozens of flower planters that will contain small flowering plants, about 3,000 linear feet of new sidewalks and 71 handicap curb ramps. The state Department of Transportation and Development is picking up 95 percent of the cost of the project, with the city covering the rest.

Under a separate, $591,000 contract to be paid with money from DOTD, four traffic lights on East Boston will be replaced with ornamental posts and signals. And, a $1.325 million contract to mill and overlay about eight miles of streets in and around the downtown area is well underway. The city is funding 100 percent of that project.

Mayor Mike Cooper said recently the work is on or slightly ahead of schedule.

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