HICKORY, N.C.,None — For years, the parking at Union Square in downtown Hickory has been free with a two-hour time limitation, but has recently been extended to three hours.
After discussions with business owners and customers of downtown Hickory, the Hickory Downtown Development Association developed a Downtown Parking Task Force to examine the need to extend the parking time limitation.
HDDA presented a proposed amendment to Hickory City Council requesting a change to all parking on Union Square in downtown Hickory, from the drive entrance at 2nd Street NW westward to the drive entrance at 3rd Street NW, from two hours to three hours.
The Downtown Parking Task Force recommended the new parking time extension to better accommodate the needs of customers and clients of the downtown business owners.
Hickory City Council unanimously voted to accept the amendment to the traffic ordinance.
"Extending the parking time in downtown Hickory has been positively received by the downtown customers and retailers since the implementation," said Connie Kincaid, Hickory Downtown Development Association Executive Director.
Once the amendment was approved, Hickory City staff immediately changed all signage to label which lots are the new, three-hour parking areas.