The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and assists communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The City of Hickory receives a yearly allocation of funding, depending on the federal budget, and uses these funds for project improvements in lower income neighborhoods.

A large part of the funds are utilized for housing programs to assist citizens with low to moderate incomes who need help with housing rehabilitation or urgent repairs. The City also offers a microenterprise grant program for low income entrepreneurs and other small loans to assist local businesses.

However, CDBG funds can also be utilized for neighborhood-wide projects in areas where residents predominately have low to moderate income levels. In recent years, CDBG funds have been used for park improvements, creating enhanced public spaces in neighborhoods that are most in need.

For example, in 2014, a new picnic shelter and restrooms were constructed at Kiwanis Park. In 2015 and 2016, new walking trails were added to Hickory Optimist Park, as well as the construction of an outdoor gym and a community building. In 2016, a new restroom facility and picnic shelter were added at West Hickory Park. In 2017 and 2018, CDBG funds were used at Cliff Teague Park to resurface the parking lot and tennis courts, make trail improvements, and add picnic areas with grills. In 2019, West Hickory Park improvements included new play equipment, benches, trash receptacles, and a basketball goal. And in 2020,Taft Broome Park received a new 20’ x 28’ picnic shelter along with new tables, benches, outdoor grills, trash receptacles, and a water fountain.

Future CDBG park improvements include expanding the parking lot for Taft Broome Park in 2021, adding new play equipment at Taft Broome Park in 2022, and enhancing Hickory Optimist Park with new play equipment, baseball field improvements, and resurfacing the pickleball courts in 2022.

“Parks fundamentally provide aesthetic and recreational benefits to the city,” explained Planning Director Brian Frazier. “Even small park improvements serve to enhance the surrounding community and CDBG funds make it possible to support the communities that need it most.”


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