D.C. and Frances Linn Community Park

The D.C. and Frances Linn Community Park, nestled at 115 North Central Avenue in the heart of Downtown Landis, stands as a testament to the Linn family’s enduring generosity. Named in honor D.C. and Frances Linn, who fervently wished to see their community prosper, this park was made possible by a donation of land to the Town of Landis for its development, a legacy that continues to inspire us all.

Mr. Linn lived in Landis his entire life, and his wife, Frances, was born and raised in China Grove. D.C. was President and CEO of D.C. Linn Engineering, Kannapolis Transit Mix Concrete, and D.C. Linn Inc., where Frances joined the family business as a bookkeeper.  Both D.C. and Frances served on many boards, often as charter members, seeing many essential community projects created to benefit their beloved community. These boards include the South Rowan YMCA, Rowan County YMCA, Catawba College Building and Grounds Committee, Rowan Regional Medical Center, Historic Salisbury Foundation, and the Rowan County Sustainable Community Development Commission. He was also formerly a board member of the Linn Corriher Corporation, Vice Chairman of the First Charter Corporation (now Fifth Third Bank), and formerly President of Lands Home Federal Saving and Loan.

As world travelers, the Linn’s enjoyed visiting parks in every country they visited, finding them tranquil and serene. Mr. Linn decided he would like to share that tranquility with the citizens in Landis and set up a donation of land to the town for a future community park. Mr. Linn always had a vision of a central park where the community could come together. The D.C. and Frances Linn Community Park will feature the original Landis Depot, the first Jail in Landis, a Doctors/Post Office, and a Fire Truck.  These exhibits will be displayed so everyone can explore and learn more about Landis’s town history.  This park will also feature plenty of areas to walk or sit to enjoy nature, a beautiful space for children to enjoy and learn through play, and a Veterans Memorial, a peaceful place to honor those who have served our country. And functioning as a central place for the community to gather and celebrate occasions together, our community park will also feature an amphitheater that will host a variety of community and family-centered events.

In 2021, the Blue Ribbon Committee was formed to start the process of building the park.  This committee is responsible for hiring an architect and contractors and raising funds to build the park.  Not only did Mr. Linn donate the land for the park to be built on, but he also left land to be sold by the town to help fund the park.  The Blue Ribbon Committee, at that time, consisted of Ryan Nelms (committee chair), Mayor Meredith Smith, Alderwoman Katie Sells, Parks and Recreation Director Jessica St. Martin, David Sells, John Hall, Summer Faw, Dannon Webster, and Del Nelms. In 2022, Bill Burgin was hired to continue D.C.’s plans and bring this park to fruition.

2024 brought new park committee members, Lee Ann Freeze and Randall Peterman, and a new park committee chair, Michelle Gray. Working with Mr. Burgin, the committee has separated the park plan into 5 phases and currently has fundraising underway, with opportunities for community members, corporations, local businesses, and local charitable foundations to participate in building a beautiful greenspace for our community to enjoy.