Did you know we are searching for a permanent location for the Lawrence Farmers Market?

Learn more about the history of this project, why we are looking for a permanent location, what our top priorities for a location are, and how you can get involved!

Permanent Location Search

Lawrence Farmers Market is the oldest operating farmers market in Kansas, starting as a pop-up in the parking lot of the Chamber of Commerce in 1976. Since then, the market has changed location multiple times, always as a temporary pop-up in city-owned parking lots. Due to ever-increasing pressure from development in Downtown Lawrence, the farmers market has lost visibility, bathroom access, storage access, parking access, and stability for the 75+ vendor members and the thousands of weekly customers. Disruption from construction projects and other community events contribute to the uncertainty and instability for market staff for planning, marketing, and sustainability. In addition to these various challenges, the increasing volatility of the Kansas weather increases the need for a covered pavilion structure to improve the experience for vendors and shoppers alike.

A new permanent location with a pavilion structure will address all of these issues and allow the Lawrence Farmers Market to host all of its events on one site and continue to professionalize, grow, and be a welcoming community gathering space for everyone in the Lawrence area. In addition to the benefits to the market itself, this project has the ability to be a mixed-use city-owned pavilion and event space that can alleviate closing off downtown streets, benefiting a great number of citizens and other community organizations.

As we begin a large Phase 1 of our Community Engagement, please consider these Top 10 Priorities for our Permanent Location, and share your feedback at one of our in-person engagement sessions and/or our online survey (coming soon).

Our Top 10 Priorities for our Permanent Location:

1) Downtown Location

2) Pavilion

3) Permanent Signage

4) Electricity

5) Access to Water & Drainage

6) Parking for Vendors & Customers

7) Community Gathering Area

8) Restrooms

9) Lighting

10) Consistent Stall Sizes

1. We are inviting YOU, our community members, for your feedback on our permanent location search! We are planning on 5 months (August-December) of Community Engagement through in-person tabling at events, Community Town Halls, presentations to community groups, and an online survey.

Community Engagement Plan:

Phase 1: Kick-Off & Discovery

Phase 2: Listening & Visioning

Phase 3: Concept Development

Phase 4: Refinement & Reporting

Upcoming Community Engagement:

• Phase 1: Saturday, August 9th at the Lawrence Farmers Market: interact with planning and design consultants Clark Huesemann to learn about the history and goals of a new permanent location! We want to hear more about what you hope to see in our future home!

• Stay tuned for a full schedule and an online survey as these events are planned.

This project would not be possible without the generous support of the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Douglas County Food Policy Council, Kansas Healthy Foods Initiative, the Vendor Members and Board of Directors of the Lawrence Farmers Market, and our community like you!

Thank you to Clark Huesemann for countless hours leading the pre-planning, planning, and design phases of this project. Thank you to Wild Acres Media and Emily Henry Photography for all of the work on helping to create and tell our story to the community. Thank you to the Douglas County Food Policy Council for supporting this project for over 10 years!

This project is supported with funding from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative.