Politics & Government
Farmers' Market Move to Cedar Park Approved
Four locations were discussed at Monday's Park Commission meeting as possible homes for the Sally Frank's Farmers' Market.
After spending 16 years in the parking lot and the past year in front of the , the finally has a new venue.
After discussing four proposed locations with the market's organizers and residents, on Monday night, the Melrose Park Commission unanimously selected at Cedar Park as a long-term home.
The market typically runs every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting mid-June and ending in October. Organizers have said they need space to accommodate 15-20 vendors as well as space for patrons to move around the market comfortably
Previous proposals to move the market and, before that, didn't come to fruition and the the current location is too small for the market's means.
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Shade, electricity and afternoon parking
Resident Dana Jewell expressed concerns about the market's business hours and advocated for early morning hours, especially on hot days. Park Commission Chairman Mike Interbartolo said the hours for hosting the market next year would be discussed with organizers at a later time.
Some of the other considerations weighing into the decision making process include location traffic, parking capacity, electricity for vendors, public transit access, and storage space.
In addition to Cedar Park, the other locations considered included near the gazebo, the parking lot behind City Hall and the park adjacent to the .
Cedar Park offers shade, electricity, and afternoon parking, which made it appealing to residents. The Ell Pond location has ample space and is highly visible, but several residents had concerns about traffic issues on Main Street. There are also some sanitation concerns with the large number for geese in the area.
The area next to the Lyons Tennis Courts meets most of the organizer's needs, but it lacks sufficient visibility, as it's in the fenced-in area between the tennis courts and the road. Cindy Chabot, one of the organizers of the market, said the location "is not ideal, but it's nice."
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Parking at City Hall 'complicated'
Chabot's focus is on finding a long-term home for the market in a place that pleases most residents. Chabot said the City Hall parking lot offers a centralized location, but the parking situation is complicated until 4 p.m. on most days.
City Hall officials have offered a 16-foot wide sidewalk for vendors, but Chabot said "there wouldn't be enough space for market goers and vendors."
Chabot asked local residents to fill out a survey of their favorite venues, and of the 39 survey respondents, the two most popular choices were Cedar Park and Ell Pond Park, with 13 vote each.
Rebecca Fuentes, a local resident, advocated for near her home, but said that any location could work. "It's all about building up a consistent location," she said.
Interbartolo said no one questions the importance of the farmers' market and agreed that finding a long-term home is the best solution for everyone.