FARMINGTON — When the Sandy River Farmer’s Market opens this Friday morning for its 20th season, the market will move but not far from its usual spot on Front Street.

Narrow Gauge Cinema owner John Moore offered space for the Friday market on his side of cement barriers erected at the end of his parking lot, Mitra Luick, market president, told selectmen Tuesday.

A Tuesday-afternoon market would conflict with matinee schedules this summer so Luick sought board approval to hold the Tuesday session from 2 to 6 p.m. in Meetinghouse Park. The board unanimously agreed on a trial basis for both the town and market.

After running the market from May through October for the past 10 years in the town-leased parking lot next to the Better Living Center, market members recently became concerned about safety for customers since the space has narrowed, Luick, told selectmen.

The market vendors need room for their tents and a safe place for customers but now there is a corridor providing access to businesses and the University of Maine’s playing fields and a fire lane along the cement barriers, she said.

After considering their options, market members want to stay in the Front Street area as they believe their “relationship with the Better Living Center is the reason this whole thing works,” she said. Many customers make visits to both the market and health food store.

While the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday market can involve more than a dozen vendors, the Tuesday market only has about a half dozen making it a better fit for the downtown park.

Board members commented on the need to pick up in the park area after the market, to not use tent stakes in the grass and parking while unloading their products.

In the Front Street space many work right from their vehicles. Setting up in the park “will be a challenge but the vendors are committed to helping each other,” she said.

Town Manager Richard Davis reminded the board of construction projects planned for this summer to make the park more handicapped accessible along with repaving of the street behind the park. The projects have not gone out to bid yet so it may be August before the work begins, he said.

An indoor winter market held on Saturdays in the Grange Hall in West Farmington will end after Saturday, April 30.

An outdoor Saturday market will open for the season on May 7 in front of the courthouse on Main Street. The Saturday market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

abryant@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link