June 20 was a great Ribbon Cutting day. Many congratulations to Town of Hildebran on their incredible downtown gathering space.
Thanks to Town of Hildebran for giving Burke River Trail Association a Key to the Town!!! We have an incredible partnership.
Back in 2020, Rep Blackwell (the visionary for Burke River Trail) and I sat down with Manager Logan Shook and started dreaming with maps — north with Burke River Trail, with Wilderness Gateway, maybe even out to Hickory.
Instead of saying, “We’ll wait and see,” Hildebran said, “Let’s make it happen.” And that’s been the spirit ever since. The staff, the mayor, the council — they are some of the most accommodating, forward-thinking, and action-oriented people we work with. They don’t sit back and hope. They work. They believe. And they follow through.
Royal Park is a perfect symbol of that. It’s not just the eastern terminus of the Burke River Trail — it’s a testament to what’s possible when a small town thinks big. So thank you for the key, Hildebran — and for being the kind of town that unlocks opportunity every day.
BRTA was honored that Hildebran trusted us to collect and track over $30,000 in donations from the community. Donor List below.
Many congratulations to Town of Hildebran on their incredible downtown gathering space.
Friday, June 20 – Ribbon Cutting
Royal Park includes a covered stage, splash pad, 1/4 mile walking track, new concession building with restrooms, and inclusive play equipment. It is the eastern terminus of Burke River Trail.
Thanks to our Donors —
Playground Features $2000 – In memory of Brian F Miller and In memory of Randy L Smith
Inclusive Playground $3600 – Tex’s Fish Camp
Walking Trail $5000 – Burke River Trail Association
Amphitheater $15,000 – Wayne Davis – The Legend
Pepsi Bottling Company of Hickory $2500
In Memory of Wayne Young $100
Daniel and Anna Reeves $100
Beth Heile $100
Kristen and Logan Shook $100
Logan Shook’s Father $100
In Memory of Vangie & Earnest Lindsay $100
In Memory of Calvin & Irene Deaton $100
In Memory of Calvin Dennis Deaton $100
Luz María López Ramirez $30
Benches – $300
SynergyLabs
In Memory of Jerry and Judy Martin
J.C. Keller and Madeline Howard Keller Family ~ Joe Keller, Helen Keller Triplett Price, Tom Keller, Douglas Keller and Sharon Keller Barlow Elliot
Bob & Bonnie Townsend ~with Love from their Children, Grandchildren, and Family
In memory of John Calvin Deaton & Irene Berry Deaton
In honor of Bobbie Honeycutt & in memory of Bernard Honeycutt
In remembrance of Mayor Albert L. Parkhurst
Hildebran High School Class of 1944
Royal Park Total Project: $1.4M
Grants and Town Funds: $1.1M (PARTF $289,700, $146K State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, $640,000 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds)
Community Donations/Sponsorships: $31,330
Initial funding was provided by a NC PARTF grant in January 2022 in the amount of $289,700. Upon the award announcement, Mayor Wendell Hildebrand commented “I’m pleased to learn that the Town has received our grant. We are excited to put these funds to work revitalizing the area where the old school stood. The plans are in place to build a park that families can enjoy for generations to come. I think this is a positive step toward rebuilding relationships within our community.”
Manager Logan Shook added, “This is exciting news! The Town Council, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, town staff and our citizens worked diligently to make this happen. I’m thankful the PARTF Authority made this a reality for our town and for our citizens. If you live in or around Hildebran, please thank your Town Council for making this happen!”
In 2021, the town completed a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan to help identify needed amenities in the town. This was key in securing the NC PARTF grant.