The Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market Needs a Permanent Home
The market is currently held at the University Place parking lot, and this location does not meet all the needs of an outdoor market. We have an opportunity to relocate the Market to the newly acquired American Legion property, which has been purchased by the Town of Chapel Hill.
In work already completed, task force members and survey respondents overwhelmingly supported a multi-use pavilion for a farmers’ market and other open-space activities that would bring community members together at a new Town park.
There are many ways to work together to accomplish this goal. We have proposed the following:
- Support the Town Council’s planning efforts to reserve part of the American Legion Park for a future home for the Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market.
- Assist the town to secure funding and participate in planning for a permanent, multi-use pavilion, similar to the nearby Durham and Carrboro Farmers’ Market pavilions.
- Research parking agreements with nearby businesses (Europa Center) in the event that on-site parking isn’t adequate or feasible.
- Encourage town planners to create a space around the American Legion property that is accessible by multiple modes (cars, bikes, pedestrians, etc.) It is also a place that builds on the potential synergy created by a Farmers’ Market near a school,
- Ephesus Elementary, by promoting healthy, student/family-friendly activities.
- Assist in promoting the advantages of a Farmers’ Market, as well as community activities, once the vision for this property is realized; this includes permanent signage, promotion on town-sponsored websites, social media, buses, and on radio.
I support the relocation of the Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market to the American Legion Road property, and encourage the Chapel Hill Town Council to support this new home.
