It’s a farmers market Saturday in downtown New Albany, and as we’ve seen recently … once again … persistently poor communications in a time of rising expectations can be a toxic brew.
City Hall non-transparency yet again: Independent downtown businesses negatively impacted by Saturday farmers market street closing.
Mulberry House Antiques and “an encroaching Farmers Market.
As a Twitter friend suggests, we might look regionally to other successful examples of a farmers market for useful clues as to the constructive fostering of cooperation.
His example is Bloomington, Indiana. Note first that in Bloomington, the farmers market is operated by the parks department.
Then, expanding this example, ponder an advisory board in New Albany representing not only vendors and customers, but downtown merchants. The point is constantly made hereabouts that the presence of the farmers market is a boon to downtown merchants. That’s plausible, and if so, wouldn’t inter-relatedness be enhanced by including merchants in the loop of communications?
People say I’m a dreamer.
But I’m not the only one.
About the Farmers’ Market Advisory Council
The Farmers’ Market Advisory Council consists of nine members representing two groups, Market customers and Market vendors. The Council acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Park Commissioners and Park staff on policy matters relating to the Farmers’ Market.
Meetings are usually held at 5:15 p.m. the third Monday of each month in the Parks and Recreation Department Conference Room, located in Suite 250 at 401 N. Morton St. in City Hall. Advisory Council meetings are open to the public.
