Rowan County Cooperative Extension Service Cuts Ribbon on Park House Education Center at Clark Park
Park House Education Center Opens Its Doors for Community Learning
Rowan County’s newest community learning space — the Park House Education Center — officially opened its doors this month, marking a major milestone for the Rowan County Cooperative Extension Service and the Fiscal Court.
At the March 18, 2025 Fiscal Court meeting, the Court voted unanimously to grant the Park House to the Cooperative Extension Service for use as a permanent educational and community hub. Since that time, an incredible team has worked hand-in-hand to transform what was once a residence on county property into a vibrant space for public learning and engagement.
Justin Caudill, Rowan County Building Inspector, along with maintenance crew members Rodney Perkins and Josh Brown, IT Director Steve Richmond, and the Rowan County Road Department all played a key role in bringing the building up to code and preparing it for its new life. Inside, Peggy Jones, Amanda Potter, and Jan Stevens of the Cooperative Extension Service have led the charge in designing a welcoming, functional environment ready for classes and community events of all kinds.
Accessibility was a major priority throughout the renovation. The Park House now features a fully ADA-accessible wheelchair ramp, handicap-accessible restrooms, and dedicated parking spaces, ensuring that everyone in the community can participate in the programs offered. The kitchen has been modernized for cooking demonstrations and hands-on classes, while new storage areas have been organized to support the many crafts, sewing, and agricultural workshops that Extension will continue to provide.
For years, the Extension Service offered classes in borrowed spaces — at locations like the Carl Perkins Center and Peggy’s Place at the City Park — and while those partnerships served the community well, the Park House provides something they’ve never had before: a home of their own. It’s a place built specifically for the diverse programming that has made the Extension Service such an asset to Rowan County, from youth development and nutrition to agriculture and family sciences.
That sense of pride and excitement was clear on Monday, October 13, when the Fiscal Court, Cooperative Extension staff, and members of the Extension Councils and Boards gathered to cut the ribbon on the new facility. Guests toured the building, explored the classrooms and kitchen, and shared ideas for what’s to come. In a special moment, Jan Stevens, who has served the Rowan County Cooperative Extension Service for 55 years, was given the honor of cutting the ribbon — a fitting tribute to her decades of dedication to the people of Rowan County.
Already, the calendar is filling fast. The Extension Service has a full slate of programs scheduled for November, ranging from cooking and canning to youth agriculture and home improvement workshops — a sign of the bright future this new space will help cultivate.
The Park House Education Center stands as a shining example of what’s possible when county government and community partners work together toward a shared goal: creating opportunity and connection for the people of Rowan County.
“This project represents exactly what local government should do — help good people do good things for their neighbors,” said Judge-Executive Harry Clark. “We’re proud to support the Extension Service and everything they do to educate, empower, and strengthen our community.”
