Coronavirus postpones one JoCo farmers market, but Overland Park’s is about to open
Officials across Johnson County disagree on whether it’s safe for farmers markets to open this season, although they are deemed essential food providers during the metrowide stay at home order.
The city of Lenexa announced this week that its farmers market, which was scheduled to open on April 25 — after the stay at home order is supposed to be lifted — will be postponed. Meanwhile, the Overland Park Farmers’ Market is scheduled to open April 11, although in a new location that allows for more social distancing.
Both markets each year draw thousands of shoppers, who often congregate in crowds for events or brush shoulders in Overland Park’s downtown pavilion or in the parking garage at Lenexa’s civic center. Officials worry about accommodating crowds, while following the guidelines of social distancing — keeping everyone six feet apart and limiting groups to no more than 10.
“Providing access to fresh, local food is very important to this community. But our top priority right now is to ensure the safety and health of our vendors, shoppers and staff as we deal with COVID-19,” Lenexa officials said in a news release. “The City of Lenexa is taking precautions to discourage formal public gatherings whenever possible.”
The Overland Park Farmers’ Market will open in a new location, at the parking lot directly south of Matt Ross Community Center, at 8101 Marty St., where vendors can spread out in the open air.
Events and children’s activities are canceled. And rather than hosting the regular 80 vendors, the farmers market will only allow 55 vendor stalls. So far, city spokesman Sean Reilly said about 35 vendors have signed up.
“Vendors will be in every third parking stall, and there will be no more than 10 people at any particular stall,” Reilly said. “We’ve had several thousand people attend on opening day, so we’re trying to limit the number of people. We hope with it being outside, people will keep a safe distance, take care of themselves, and if they’re vulnerable, have someone else shop for them.”
As the number of coronavirus cases grows exponentially in Johnson County, leaders are grappling with how to continue providing services and access to resources while abiding by the stay at home order.
Mary Cyr, executive director of the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, said she expects smaller crowds this season. But she argued it’s important to open the farmers market this year to provide the community with healthy food, plus help reinvigorate the struggling downtown as many businesses remain closed.
