Hickory NC Aviation Walk Opens

Funded largely by a $17 million BUILD grant from the United States Department of Transportation, the Aviation Walk creates another critical link between several notable Hickory destinations. As part of the larger Hickory Trail multiuse path system, the Aviation Walk provides bicycling and pedestrian connectivity from Old Lenoir Road and the OLLE Art Walk, across U.S. 321 via a steel pedestrian bridge, past L.P. Frans Stadium and Winkler Park, up to the Hickory Regional Airport.

In addition to the multiuse trail, the Aviation Walk project adds a new trailhead off U.S. 321 (1240 U.S. 321 NW) that includes trail parking, a picnic shelter with tables, bike station, and restrooms. Additional parking for the Aviation Walk is available in a lot near the entrance to Hickory Regional Airport (3101 9th Ave Dr NW) and at Winkler Park (2500 Clement Blvd NW).

The Aviation Walk is the third of five major Hickory Trail segments to be completed, and expansions of this trail segment are already in the works. Three future extensions of the Aviation Walk will create trail connections to the Appalachian State University Hickory Campus along 17th Street NW, the future Hickory Aviation Museum and Catawba Valley Community College Workforce Innovation Center on 21st Street NW, and further along Ninth Avenue Drive NW to Goat Farm Street.

This area of the city holds great potential for future development, and the Aviation Walk is a key driver in creating an innovation district that builds on the synergies between the Hickory airport, CVCC’s Workforce Innovation Center, the expanded Hickory Aviation Museum, Appalachian State’s Hickory Campus, the Catawba River, Riverwalk, the Lackey project, and the U.S. 321 corridor. 

read more: Hickory Aviation Walk