SUMMARY:
As the Board is aware, the Farmer's Market temporarily moved from Fletcher Park to the practice field at the Center Recreation Area so that Fletcher Park could be used as a lay down area for the Center Streetscape, Battle Green Streetscape and Police Station projects. As we wrap up the Police Station project with the rehabilitation of Fletcher Park, we have planned for a sprinkler system and sod so that the park has a good start and can be maintained in better condition than previously. Under the Select Board-Town Manager Act, the management of all Town property falls under the Town Manager [Section 9(D)] and as such the Town Manager has made a preliminary determination to not allow trucks/vehicles onto the grass at Fletcher Park, but to make provisions for the vendors to park along the new wide sidewalks that encircle the park and to sell from there. Trucks driving on the grass will damage the sprinkler system and future maintenance of the park will be made more difficult.
The Town Manager, DPW Director, Public Facilities Director and Police Captain Barry met with Leslie Wilcott-Henrie and Linda Arnow to discuss this issue and we believe there is a workable solution by allowing the farmers to park around the concrete sidewalks (where the canopies will be located). There are still some issues that will need to be worked out for farmers in the middle and where storage will be. The current working plan is for the Farmers Market to continue to be located at the practice field on Worthen Road for the 2025 season and move back to Fletcher Park for the 2026 season. This will provide the time and review necessary to work out the remaining details.
Given the Town Manager's retirement, although he has discussed this decision with the Lexington Farmer's Market wanted to give the Select Board an opportunity to also weigh in so that this is an issue the new Town Manager can work on with the Farmers Market, knowing the Select Board's thoughts.
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