Overview

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. 

Project History

On December 6, 2018, the City of Hickory was awarded a $17 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). In addition to funding a 1.2-mile complete streetscape loop in Downtown Hickory as part of the Hickory Trail, the BUILD grant funded a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 321 and an approximately 1.7-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that travels by L.P. Frans Stadium, home of the Hickory Crawdads baseball team, and up to the Hickory Regional Airport. This multiuse path is called the Aviation Walk.

During a special meeting on October 9, 2019, Hickory City Council approved a contract with TGS Engineers for planning, permitting, routing, design, and estimating of the project. 

In a special called meeting on June 9, 2021, Hickory City Council approved a $20,815,037.15 construction contract with Neill Grading & Construction for the City’s first BUILD grant, which includes the Aviation Walk and the City Walk extension at 9th Street NW and 11th Street NW. 

A ribbon cutting marked the official grand opening of the Aviation Walk on July 30, 2024. Hickory leaders and community members gathered at the new Aviation Walk bridge trailhead on U.S. 321 for the ceremony.

Aviation Walk Photos