CONCORD, N.C. — After three years, the barn is back at Frank Liske Park in Concord.
On Saturday, Cabarrus County’s Active Living and Parks hosted a Silo Sprint 5K to commemorate the event. Runners and walkers met at the park at 8 a.m. for the event formerly known as the June Bug 5K.
Saturday’s event was held to honor the history and new beginning of the recognizable barn that was destroyed after an intentionally set fire in 2020. Soon, a brand new barn will be opened at the same site.
The building was originally used as a dairy barn for the Stonewall Jackson Training School. After the county opened Frank Liske Park in the early ‘80s, the barn became a great gathering place for weddings, graduations, and reunions through the decades.
After the fire, commissioners decided to replace the iconic structure. The new facility will open this summer and will be over 12,000 square feet with two stories, two kitchens, air conditioning, rental space, an elevator, and private and public bathrooms.
The race was the first event to celebrate the barn’s rebuild; Joshua Coffman, Park Programs senior manager, said getting the barn back was a top priority.
“It’s got a great history, so when you think of Frank Liske Park, the first thing that will come to mind is the barn,” Coffman said. “It’s an important staple to have here, so that’s why we’re so excited to have this thing rebuilt.”
Cabarrus County hopes to open the new barn for reservations by early August.
(WATCH BELOW: Community comes together for 5k to raise money for Down syndrome education)
(WATCH BELOW: Iconic barn at Concord park gets new life after it was destroyed by fire)
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