Park Commission Discusses Moving Farmers' Market

Editor's note: This article was updated on Wednesday at 9:10 a.m.

The Melrose Park Commission met Monday night to discuss, among other things, .

The market, which was established in 1994, spent 16 years in the parking lot. However, this year the market moved to the front lawn, after attempts to move elsewhere, such and before that , didn't come to fruition. Unfortunately, the current location is too small for their means, and both patrons and vendors alike have expressed interest in relocating.

The market typically runs every Thursday starting mid-June and ending in October. Organizers need an open, flat area capable of holding roughly 20 100-square-foot tents with space in between them for patrons to move around comfortably. Adequate parking and transit access required, as well as electricity and ample storage space near the facilities.

Of a list of 14 potential locations listed in the market’s website, three were brought before the commission: near the gazebo, , and, their preferred location, the park adjacent to the .

Cedar Park would have the space they would need, and organizers have reached out to city officials about opening up an adjacent municipal parking lot, but Farm Direct Coop went before the commission before as a possible new location for the market in 2007 and was rejected due to neighboring resident objections.

The Ell Pond location has a lot of upside, with enough space to grow the market and the ability to use the gazebo for live music, but both vendors and patrons have sanitary concerns with the large number for geese in that area. A coyote decoy could be used to mitigate goose droppings.

The are next to the Lyons Tennis Courts is the most well rounded location, meeting all their needs with the exception of public transit access.

“We know that we can’t please everyone with any of these locations,” said Cindy Chabot, who spoke on behalf of the market. “But we’re trying to please as many people as possible.”

Rose Sena, a Melrose resident since 1964 who’s frequented the market since it’s opening, had another suggestion.

“The best location is City Hall,” Sena said.

She claims that none of these locations are particularly well suited for seniors, having limited MBTA access and little to no pavement, which allows easier movement. Sena suggested getting volunteers to clean up and maintain the parking lot to make it more aethetically appealing, then moving the market back to where it originated.

The commission agreed to add City Hall as a fourth option, barring a report from the Parking Commission on that area. The Park Commission will have a public hearing at their next meeting on Sept. 12, location to be determined.

“Whatever happens, we need to make it right for the community,” said market organizer Heather Macdonald.