As construction costs remain elevated, the Town of Hildebran is seeking donations and sponsors to close the gap in funding for its downtown park. Royal Park will include a covered stage, splash pad, 1/4 mile walking track, new concession building with restrooms, and inclusive playground equipment. In partnership with Burke River Trail Association, the Town is kicking off a Fundraising Campaign that offers unique contribution and legacy opportunities to businesses and individuals while also ensuring the park is completed with all the special touches without having to scale back.
DDI of Hickory has seized this opportunity and stepped up to the plate with a $15,000 donation for the amphitheater made in memory of Wayne Davis. Dustin Davis could not keep the smile off his face as he talked about the impact his father, Wayne Davis, had on sports in Hildebran. The older Davis played briefly for the Charlotte Twins (Southern League-AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) and enlisted with the Marine Corps so that he could finish the season before leaving for basic training. Though drafted by the Minnesota Twins he instead chose to go to Vietnam to serve his country. Upon his return to Hildebran, factory baseball teams were popular, and Davis was hired by a local manufacturer more for his baseball skills than other qualifications.
The younger Davis wants to give back to the community where his family settled in the late 1700s. His grandparents, parents, he and his siblings all attended Hildebran schools. Very involved in town sports, Wayne Davis and Dustin Davis coached the Hildebran Storm. Four generations of the Davis family have spent many hours playing baseball in the field that joins Royal Park.
After his time playing baseball for the manufacturers, Wayne Davis enjoyed a successful career in insurance before retiring. He passed away in 2018 after being diagnosed with Stage Four cancer in 2000 and told he only had a year to live. The younger Davis said his father was a “special person, who had never met a stranger” and was not going to let the diagnosis slow him down.
When Dustin Davis found out about the Royal Park project, he knew immediately it was something he wanted to be a part of. Davis’ company, DDI of Hickory, is the general contractor overseeing the downtown revitalization, and he says, “In a town where I had so many great memories of baseball, cruise ins, Friday morning breakfasts at Chicken in the Basket, and all that comes with living in a small town, it has been an honor to lead this project.”
Another family well known in the Hildebran area is equally excited about the downtown park. Two years ago, for their 50th Anniversary Celebration, Tex’s Fish Camp chose to support Royal Park before details were finalized.
Tom & Bernese Burns built the restaurant with the help of their son Tex in 1972 for several reasons. High on the list were employing family and community as well as providing a place for them to come and eat. “Being a third-generation family member who has worked there for almost 30 years, I knew our 50th anniversary celebration needed to reflect dedication to the community. Having had a father who was totally disabled at the time, my family understood the importance of having accessible equipment installed to include everyone,” shared Tamika Garrison.
The community came together in September 2022 to support local food trucks and vendors and participate in a silent auction during the Fish Camp’s celebration to raise money to encourage progress on a new playground in Hildebran. Seeing an inclusive playground as a need in the Hildebran, the family wanted to bridge that gap just a little and hoped to be able to fund one piece of equipment. With the help of the community, they raised $3600 which is enough to sponsor the entire playground at Royal Park. The new equipment will allow children of all abilities to play together.
Another sponsorship approved by the Town of Hildebran Council was the Burke River Trail Association’s $5,000 donation for the Walking Trail. With Royal Park being the eastern terminus town of the Burke River Trail and a key trailhead, it made perfect sense for the organization to support the town’s efforts. The developing 40-mile Burke River Trail will run along Center St as it connects Long View to Henry River Mill Village through the Hildebran town center. In addition to trail on the ground, BRTA works to create stronger communities through economic development and civic engagement. Executive Director Beth Heile shared, “Supporting Royal Park is in line with our mission as a downtown gathering space will continue to foster a sense of community that has been important to the families that donated to the park, and all the families with ties to Hilderbran. It will also bring more people into downtown to eat and shop before or after spending time at the park.”
For information on donating to Royal Park, go to https://rivertrail.betterburke.com/royal-park/ There are amenity sponsorship and general donation opportunities. Burke River Trail Association as a 501(c)3 nonprofit will accept the donations on behalf of the town.