FOREST CITY, NC –– On Thursday, January 15, 2026, community leaders, partners, and Town of Forest City staff and commissioners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Park Square Depot, the future home of the Rutherford County Farmers Market.
The groundbreaking ceremony began at 4:30 PM on Thursday at the new site located at the Oak Street and Park Square intersection, adjacent to the Thermal Belt Rail Trail. Several community partners were in attendance, including Jill Miracle of RHI Legacy Foundation; Don Cason and Willard Whitson of the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority; Nicolas Bartscher of Meta; Keith Webb of McGill Associates; Jesse Padgett, Adam Whisnant, and Kevin Liverman of Custom Building Systems; and Randall Pearson, Anne Byrne, Kristin Pearson, and Brooklyn Murray of Rutherford BARN. Commissioners Chris Lee, Dee Dee Bright, and John Mark Bennett were also in attendance.
Mayor Steve Holland opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees and recognizing the community partners present, highlighting the years-long anticipation surrounding the project and noting the significant opportunity it will provide for Rutherford County. “The Park Square Depot will be a valuable addition to our town and county,” noted Mayor Holland. “The project is a great example of what can be achieved through strong community partnerships.”
The Park Square Depot will serve as a multi-functional space providing various recreational, educational, and marketing opportunities for the community. In addition to allowing the Rutherford County Farmers Market to expand its vendor capacity and offerings, the depot will feature a commercial-grade kitchen designed for demonstrations and instructional programming, and will be available for small producers and entrepreneurs to develop value-added products in compliance with applicable food safety regulations and health requirements.
The project was made possible through various grant awards and contributions, with key investments provided by RHI Legacy Foundation, Carolina Foothills Foundation, the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority, and Meta.
Construction of the depot began earlier this month and is expected to continue over the coming months, with completion anticipated in 2026. The Town of Forest City is excited for the opportunities the Park Square Depot will bring and extends its appreciation to all community partners whose dedication and collaborative efforts have helped bring the project to fruition.
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