City of Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism

09/17/2026

We are partnering with the Walkin' Roll Activities League, Inc. to host a special Spirits of Service & Good Deeds Trunk or Treat at L.P. Frans Stadium! On Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5-7:30 p.m., local organizations will share programs and services they provide to people with disabilities in our community.

09/16/2026

We're taking over the Samuel William Davis, Sr. Multipurpose Field THIS SATURDAY, Sept. 19, for Ballfield Music Bingo! Come join us from 12-4 p.m. to listen to some great music, and enter to win raffles, prizes, and giveaways. No registration required.

09/15/2026

Tennis in Hickory has long been synonymous with Kathy Kim, whose more than 50 years of coaching, mentoring, and championing the sport have shaped generations of players and strengthened the tennis community across the region.

On Sept. 15, the City of Hickory officially named the eight lighted tennis courts at Hickory City Park as the Kathy Kim Tennis Complex in recognition of Kim’s athletic accomplishments and her decades of service to tennis, the Hickory community, and the many athletes she has supported and guided throughout her career.

The naming dedication included remarks from Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Director Mark Seaman; Hickory Mayor Hank Guess; North Carolina Tennis Association President Debbie Southern; North Carolina Tennis Foundation and USTA North Carolina Executive Director Kelly Gaines; Greater Hickory Tennis Association Board Member Donna Barger; Greater Hickory Tennis Association Board Member Lela Thompson; and local sports legend, tennis coach, and honoree Kathy Kim.

A true cornerstone of local tennis, Kim has introduced countless athletes to the game and continues, well into her 80s, to teach five days a week and lead multiple women’s leagues. Her passion, energy, and unwavering dedication embody the very best of community recreation, making the naming of the Hickory City Park tennis complex in her honor a fitting tribute to her remarkable legacy and an inspiration for future players.

Kathleen C. “Kathy” Kim has been credited with advancing tennis in Catawba County more than any other individual. A resident of the county since 1972, she served on the Junior Council of the North Carolina Tennis Association from 1985 to 1986 and later as Junior Council Director from 1987 to 1988. During this time, she played a key role in developing statewide rules and regulations for junior players. Kim ranked fifth in North Carolina in the age 35 division in 1985, and with partner Sandra Denny, ranked second in the state in doubles competition. She coached the Senior David Cup team for the NC Tennis Association in 1988 and worked alongside Coach Laurie Newman in 1989 to lead the Hickory High boys’ tennis team to a state championship.

Her many honors include being named North Carolina Teacher of the Year in 1986 and Southern Teacher of the Year in 1988 by the North Carolina Tennis Association. She received the City of Hickory Community Relations Council Award in 1992 and the Hickory Rotary Club’s first-ever Dwight Bartlett Award later that year. In 2002, both the United States Tennis Association and the North Carolina Tennis Association named her National Teacher of the Year. She was inducted into the Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Hickory City Park is located at 1581 12th St Dr NW in Hickory. For more information about the park, visit www.hickorync.gov/hickory-city-park. To reserve courts at the Kathy Kim Tennis Complex at Hickory City Park, call 828-322-7046 or visit hickory.recdesk.com.

09/15/2026

Join us for an action-packed Teacher Workday Day Camp next Friday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids ages 7-12 will depart from Highland Recreation Center for a fun-filled day at Bo's Bodacious Family Entertainment, then enjoy a pizza lunch and an afternoon movie at Carolina Theater. Learn more and register today at https://tinyurl.com/3yrnt6mu.

09/15/2026

Come to Highland Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 10, for the ultimate pumpkin-painting bash! Come paint your very own styrofoam pumpkin at the Pumpkin Splash from 12-4 p.m. Registration is now open at https://tinyurl.com/m5uwd8a3.

09/14/2026

In honor of Kathy Kim’s outstanding athletic achievements and her decades of dedication to both tennis and the Hickory community, the tennis courts at Hickory City Park will officially be named the Kathy Kim Tennis Complex.

Join us for a special naming dedication on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m. at Hickory City Park.

For more than 50 years, Kathy Kim has been a cornerstone of tennis in the Hickory region—coaching, mentoring, and inspiring generations of players. Her passion and leadership have strengthened the sport and left a lasting impact on countless athletes and families.

We look forward to celebrating her legacy together.

09/14/2026

Families, join us THIS SATURDAY, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our annual Kidfest at Kiwanis Park! Kids of all ages can make crafts, play games, get their faces painted, and more at this free day of play.

09/12/2026

Due to the rain, tonight’s event has been cancelled.

Join us THIS SATURDAY for a special Saturday Screening of "Inside Out!" Bring a lawn chair or blanket to Union Square this Saturday, Sept. 12, then enjoy games and concessions before the movie begins at 8 p.m.

Saturday Screenings are presented by Jay Brown, Realtors® and hosted by the City of Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department in partnership with the Footcandle Film Society.

09/10/2026

Registration is now underway for the City of Hickory's Youth Basketball and Indoor Soccer programs. Participation is free to all City of Hickory residents, and nonresidents can also participate by paying a $40 nonresident fee. Each participant will also purchase their team jersey to complete registration.

Online registration for both youth sports programs is available at hickory.recdesk.com.

If it is your child’s first time participating with the Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department, a copy of his or her birth certificate must be turned in at the Administrative Offices, located at 1451 8th Street Drive NE, prior to participation.

Youth Basketball - Registration ends Oct. 21

The Youth Basketball program is offered to boys and girls ages 5-15, with different divisions by age group:
• Co-ed: 6U for ages 5-6
• Boys divisions: 8U for ages 7-8, 10U for ages 9-10, and 12U for ages 11-12
• Girls divisions: 8U for ages 7-8, 10U for ages 9-10, and 13U for ages 11-13
• Co-ed: 15U for ages 13-15

The division your child will participate in is determined by their age on Aug. 31, 2026. Participants must be 5 by Aug. 31, 2026, and players who turned 16 before Aug. 31, 2026, are no longer eligible to participate.

Basketball skills assessments, sponsored by Academy Sports & Outdoors, will be held the week of Oct. 27.

Indoor Soccer - Registration ends Oct. 28

The Indoor Soccer program is co-ed and offered to youth ages 6-15, with different divisions by age group:
• 8U for ages 6-8
• 10U for ages 9-10
• 12U for ages 11-12
• 15U for ages 13-15

The division your child will participate in is determined by their age on Aug. 31, 2026. Participants must be 6 by Aug. 31, 2026, and players who turned 16 before Aug. 31, 2026, are no longer eligible to participate.

Skills assessments will be held on Nov. 7. Practices and games will be held on Fridays or Saturdays.

For more information about these youth winter sports programs, or for assistance with registration, please call 828-322-7046, Ext. 2, or contact sports programmers Chris Johnson at [email protected], Robbie Link at [email protected], or Richard McKercher at [email protected].

09/09/2026

Sign up for fall tennis lessons at Hickory City Park with instructor Kathy Kim! She offers appointments Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m. for kids of all ages. Contact her today at 828‑238‑4563 to schedule a lesson.