ASKING TO SWITCH COUNTY GRANT FROM BALL FIELDS TO FARMERS MARKET
Parkville would like to redirect some grant money originally intended for downtown ball fields, city officials say, and put it toward replacing the Farmers Market structure.
“We are sending a letter to the Platte County Parks Board asking that they permit us to redirect a $1 million park grant originally designated for ball fields in Platte Landing Park to the Farmers Market,” Mayor Dean Katerndahl told The Landmark last Wednesday.
“Once we have a little better idea of the funds we have available we will revisit the plans developed and reviewed earlier to see if can afford the expanded Farmers Market rebuild,” the mayor added.
“We have also asked the architect to look into more cost-effective options that maintain the look of the old Farmers Market. I imagine we will spend the next few months deciding on funding and the plans we will go with, and hopefully construction will start in the fall,” the mayor said.
As for location of a new market, Katerndahl told The Landmark this week:
“All of our discussions have indicated most folks want it right where the old one was. I’m sure that’s where it will be.”
The redirect of grant funding would kill the idea of ball fields in Platte Landing Park, the mayor said. “But ball fields will be one of the major questions in our update to the Park Master Plan, and where to put them,” he added.
The iconic Farmers Market structure in the downtown parking lot near English Landing Park in Parkville is no more. The structure, except for concrete pedestals, was taken down late last week after an insurance settlement was reached. The pedestals will come out within the next month, Katerndahl said.
The market structure was struck by two trucks in separate incidents last year, which caused significant damage to the entire building.
Since that time, the city had been in negotiations with the insurance claims adjustors for both of the trucking companies. Two weeks ago the city came to an agreement with the insurance companies, and Parkville is set to receive a total of $455,306.
City officials had said the next steps would be to review the options and associated costs, research grant opportunities and develop a plan for the new structure.
Philip Wassmer, a Parkville alderman, posted on his Facebook page on Friday: “It is a sad day for some life long residents but today, the first steps are being taken towards replacing our iconic farmers market with a new structure that will aesthetically pay homage to the original. Jack Friedman’s legacy will be preserved with the reinstallation of his memorial plaque and we will have a wonderful new structure that will serve the residents of Parkville for generations.”
City officials said the Farmers Market will be operating in the downtown parking lot this season. The first market is set for Saturday, April 29 from 7 a.m. to noon.
